The election season is now behind us, and all of the important decisions have been made. We have President Obama for another four years. But even if Mitt Romney had won, the Church in our country would still have a ton of challenges to face.

I have told this story many times, but let me reminisce for those who have not heard it. I opened my first pizza store in Ypsilanti, Mich., in December of 1960. The second store opened in December of 1961 in Mount Pleasant, near Central Michigan University.

Sue Pear, a long-time friend who was involved in helping us start Legatus, recently found an old copy of the first Legatus newsletter and gave it to me. It was dated August 1987. As I skimmed through the newsletter, I found it both nostalgic and inspiring to see how we have grown from those early days to where we are now.

Most mornings, as a part of my normal routine, I stop by a small “party store” after Mass to buy a newspaper. The other day when I went to get my paper, I noticed that they had added a porn magazine to their other offerings. I mentioned to the person working there that I was disappointed to see them add this. As a result, I have not been back since; there are certainly other places I can get a newspaper.

Like many things in our lives, unless we’re vigilant, it can be easy to lose focus on some of the things that are central to our health — whether it’s physical, financial or spiritual health.

How do you refer to your pastor? How about your local bishop or archbishop? Years ago, I made a conscious effort to refer to and address clergy using their title and last name. For example, when referring to or addressing our early Legatus chaplain, I would say “Fr. Rutler” rather than “Fr. George.”

As Catholics we all know that we’re called to “spread the faith” — to evangelize. We’ve all heard Blessed John Paul’s call for the New Evangelization. And as Legates, our very mission statement is to study, live and spread the faith.

I was privileged to be in Rome on May 1 for John Paul the Great’s beatification. I was there as a part of a pilgrimage led by Steve & Janet Ray and Legate Teresa Tomeo. The pilgrimage was handled by Legate John Hale’s Corporate Travel Co. They all did an amazing job!

As many of you may have heard, I recently stepped down as CEO of Ave Maria University (AMU) as a part of a leadership transition plan that I’ve been working on with the university board over the last couple of years.

As someone who has played and followed sports my whole life, I’ve found athletics to be a natural source of recreation — not to mention a way to stay healthy and fit.

The world saw a great man pass from this life on Sept. 27, 2010. Frank Stella exemplified what it means to be a Legatus member. He was a faithful ambassador of Legatus and many other worthy organizations — most importantly, the Church — through his final day.

I am often asked what it was like owning the Detroit Tigers. As I look back, the whole thing was like a dream. First, the way the purchase happened. The 1983 season had ended, and the negotiations were cloaked in secrecy because the owner, John Fetzer, said that if word of a possible deal got to the press, the deal was dead.

We all know that sometimes in life — whether in our business or personal affairs — we are dealt unexpected setbacks. You wouldn’t be where you are today if you didn’t know how to turn such setbacks into stepping stones.

In the early years of Domino’s Pizza, I was continually pressed by some of our people to diversify. Things were going well, the stores were increasing in sales every year, and new stores were opening at an ever faster clip.

I met Al Kresta in 1992. Our first meeting was at one of our First Friday events; he was a speaker and then again later he was a speaker at a Legatus chapter event in Michigan.

As Catholic business leaders, we all want what’s best for our employees and our business. As this year draws to a close and we prepare for a new calendar year, one thing that we’re all dealing with is health care.

Many years ago, at the last job that I worked before buying my first pizza store, I was fortunate to have an excellent businessman as my boss. One day while we were talking, he told me about a Mr. Lynn A. Townsend who was the Chairman and CEO of Chrysler Corporation. (This was back in the late 1950s when Chrysler was one of the biggest and most successful corporations in the world.)

Yes, the economy is tough right now. We are in the midst of a recession and have been for some time, and it may last a lot longer. In times like these, most people are reassessing their priorities.

Over the years, I have come to recognize that one of my many faults is driving too fast. In recent years, I have been stopped for speeding on numerous occasions in Michigan and Florida. Somehow, on each of these occasions, I have always gotten off with just a warning. In fact the last time I was stopped, the policeman sent a baseball to my office for me to sign!

In January, I traveled to Philadelphia to mourn the loss of a fellow Legate, mentor and friend, Paul M. Henkels. As I attended Paul’s visitation and funeral Mass the next morning, I was struck by the tremendous impact this one man’s life had on so many.