After graduating from high school, Drury served for two years in the Air Force and then returned home to work with his family.
With his father and brothers, he began plastering, laying ceramic tile and setting marble and structural steel. Eventually, they started working as subcontractors, although his father refused to work for anyone who required a contract, teaching his sons that they must always follow through on their word.
After working at many hotels, "we decided we ought to build one of our own," Drury said.
His family initially bought one Holiday Inn franchise and five Ramada Inn franchises. The company moved forward, learning from their mistakes, and they eventually decided to start their own hotel.
As the company grew, Drury remembered his roots. Since no one in the family business had attended college, most of their instincts came from working with animals on the farm, he recalled.
In addition, a strong faith continued to influence the Drurys' business decisions. Whenever there was a dispute that could not be resolved – sometimes thousands of dollars – they would settle it by offering to give the disputed sum to the Church and allow the other party to take the deduction for it, a practice that he continues today.
When the company bought interstate sites that they later realized they did not need for their hotels, they donated them to the Church, he added.
Drury hotels have never had pornographic television channels in any of their rooms, he said, adding that he has received numerous letters of gratitude from parents who appreciate the ability to bring their children to hotels without worrying about exposing them to inappropriate sexual content.
In his personal life, Drury continues his Church-related philanthropy, a practice that his family maintained even when they were living on the farm with very few material possessions.
He and his wife Shirley participate in local fundraisers and community initiatives, as well as international efforts to help those in need around the world through organizations such as the Papal Foundation.
Currently, Drury is dealing with the federal contraception mandate. Issued in Jan. 2012 by the Department of Health and Human Services, the mandate requires employers to offer health insurance that covers contraception, sterilization and drugs that have the potential to cause abortions.
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Although he is pro-life and objects to the mandate, his company is subject to it because it is considered "secular" by the government, despite the fact that it is a private family company.
Drury said that he has sent out notices that the company – which is self-insured – will not comply with the mandate and is in the process of pursuing a legal challenge to it.
"We will not participate in payments of any kind" that oppose Church teaching, he said.
Michelle La Rosa is deputy editor-in-chief of Catholic News Agency. She has worked for CNA since 2011. She studied political philosophy and journalism at the University of Dallas.