I saw Fred Hubbell in Palmer's deli last week with father Jim, and, while I only said hello, I would have liked to know why he was visiting Des Moines – a town he sold his stake in back in 1997.

Sure, dad is here and brother Jim is still in town. Hubbell Realty continues to break new ground. But I have to wonder what Des Moines' projects – library, Court Avenue, riverwalk... all of it – would look like if Fred (and Equitable of Iowa) were still investing energy and dollars in this town.