Pasco man meets ‘Mrs. Brady’ in chance encounter at Chicago airport

Rhody Hayes could have ignored the older lady who walked up next to him in the crowd of harried travelers in O’Hare International Airport.

He had just taken two flights to Chicago, only to learn the airport was being closed temporarily on May 25 because of high winds, lightning and rain.

And his final leg to Indiana was canceled, with little assurance he would get a seat on a flight the following day.

But when the Pasco man realized the woman beside him was worried about missing that same connection, Hayes asked if she was up for a four-hour drive in a rental car to Indianapolis.

That moment of kindness led to a dreamlike experience for Hayes at the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500.

His traveling companion was Florence Henderson, famous for her role as mother Carol Brady on the 1970s sitcom The Brady Bunch.

The 82-year-old actress and singer — an Indiana native and regular at the Memorial Day weekend event — was grand marshal of the race.

Hayes already was planning to attend the race and the festivities in the days leading up to it. He was meeting up with a group of 30 people from the Tri-Cities and Spokane, and had two vintage Indy race cars to display.

But as a thank you for Hayes’ generosity, she gave the race-car driver and motorsport enthusiast two tickets to the owners’ suite at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Once in the Gasoline Alley Suite on Sunday morning, Hayes and friend Michael McKinney were able to sign up for exclusive pit passes to look at the cars before the race.

And later, Hayes got to snap some up-close pictures of pop star Lady Gaga, who also had a room attached to the prized suite.

On Tuesday, Hayes reflected on the chance encounter with Henderson at a United Airlines gate.

“Sometimes when you do nice things for people, it pays off … in ways you never thought could happen to you,” he said. “Maybe you would have never turned around to help somebody and thought, ‘Hey, I’m going to do my own thing.’”

Hayes admits he did not recognize the actress at first. His only focus was on calming her down, while trying to figure out what to do.

He did not know at the time that he was among Indy 500 royalty, which explained why Henderson was so panicked about getting to Indianapolis.

It was only as the two strangers decided to drive together that they realized they had not yet introduced themselves.

“When she said who she was, then it was like instantaneous. I said, ‘Oh, I know you,’” Hayes recalled.

Then when she added that she was the race grand marshal, Hayes told her, “Well, we’re on a mission. I’m going to get you there.”

Hayes grabbed the rental car as Henderson worked her magic and was able to get her luggage in the middle of the storm.

Over the next four hours, they chatted about “all sorts of stuff,” including family and Henderson’s life in Los Angeles. He described Henderson as down to earth, nice and the “sweetest lady.”

“She started talking about Dancing with the Stars, since she was one of the contestants (on the 11th season). She goes to every single show and she knows all the people that competed and (host Tom) Bergeron,” Hayes said. “Then I started talking about it and she was just shocked. How did I know all about it?”

“My wife watches it and I try to be a good husband and watch it with her, so I knew all the contestants like she did,” he added.

Hayes said about a third of the trip was spent talking about the ABC reality show.

In the meantime, Henderson kept in constant contact with a police officer who is part of her escort detail in Indianapolis every year.

Sure enough, when they exited Interstate 65 in Indianapolis at 12:30 a.m. Thursday, a police escort met their car and drove with them to the race track where Henderson was staying, Hayes said.

Then on Friday, Hayes got a text message from Henderson asking for the address of his hotel.

Shortly after that, a police officer walked into the lobby where Hayes and the other Inland Northwest race enthusiasts were gathered and asked for him. The officer said “You’re going to have the time of your life” as he handed the suite tickets to Hayes.

“Everybody stood up and cheered, like I won the race or something,” he said. “It was just ironic and emotional to have that happen.”

Hayes is retired as an instructor with the Columbia Basin College auto-body program. He was a crew member for an Indy 500 team in 1999.

Henderson told Hayes on race day that she had gotten emails from friends who were concerned she had traveled in a car with a stranger. She told him, “Well, you just look like a nice guy.”

Henderson said since she does not travel with cash, she will send Hayes a check to cover the rental car and a special gift for his wife, Emma.

From 1991 to 2015, Henderson would sing The Star-Spangled Banner, God Bless America or America the Beautiful before the race.

She did not sing this year. Instead, in her new role as grand marshal, she greeted drivers and dignitaries, announced the “drivers to your cars” message and rode in a parade car. Then she returned to her room adjacent to the suite to talk with Hayes and others.

Henderson told the Associated Press that she has become a huge fan of the Indianapolis 500 and stays at the track for the entire race.

She added that she has a fondness for fellow Dancing with the Stars competitor Helio Castroneves.

“I watch every minute of it,” Henderson said. “I always stay for the entire race. I think I’m the only (celebrity) that stays for the victory dinner. I feel like such a part of the race. As long as they ask me back, I’ll be there.”

This story was originally published May 31, 2016 at 7:24 PM with the headline "Pasco man meets ‘Mrs. Brady’ in chance encounter at Chicago airport."