Many of the stories about Howard Hughes are just stories. Facts are very hard to verify, because during his entire four year stay in Las Vegas only one man actually saw him. Even Bob Maheu, his chief of Nevada operations, never saw him, he only spoke to him over the phone. The only man who actually saw Howard Hughes in Las Vegas was the lawyer who represented Hughes when he was being licensed for the Desert Inn. The lawyer insisted that he met Howard Hughes face to face first. Hughes finally relented and the lawyer was brought up to the top floor of the Desert Inn and ushered into the suite. Hughes opened his bedroom door, sneered at the lawyer, and said: "Well, I exist. Damn it. Are you satisfied?". Hughes then retreated back into his bedroom and closed the door. J. Richard Gray was the lawyer who holds the distinction of being the only person to see Howard Hughes during his four year stay at the Desert Inn.