Would you let your 14 year old travel to another city without you? Would you let him take all your inventory with him and trust him with a huge sale? Well, that's how J. Willard Marriott Sr. got his start. Times were different then to be sure, but it was that audacious confidence, strong work ethic, and family unity that he passed on to his sons and that formed the cornerstone of one of the world's most well-known and well-loved brands.