Glenn
McCarthy was born in Beaumont, Texas, on 25th December, 1907. His
father worked in the local oilfields and at the age of eight he found
employment there as a waterboy. The family later moved to Houston.
McCarthy
won a football scholarship to Tulane University but this was brought
to an end by a serious leg injury. McCarthy decided to enter the oil
business. He first discovered oil at Anahuac, near Trinty Bay on the
Gulf Coast. Between 1932 and 1942 McCarthy struck oil 38 times. This
included the discovery of eleven new oilfields in Texas.
In
1949 McCarthy spent $21 million building the Shamrock Hotel in Houston.
The opening of the hotel took place on Saint Patrick's Day. McCarthy
rented an entire train, to transport a few movie stars from Los
Angeles to Houston. All told, 3,000 people were invited to the
party that cost an estimated $1 million.
Known
as "Diamond Glenn" and the "King of the Wildcatters"
McCarthy was estimated to be worth $200 million by 1950. At this time
he had over 400 gas and oil wells in Texas and was president of the
United States Petroleum Association.
McCarthy
owned several companies including the McCarthy Oil and Gas Company,
the Beaumont Gas Company, the Houston Export Company, KXYZ Radio,
the McCarthy Chemical Company, the McCarthy International Tube Company.
He also owned two banks, fourteen newspapers, a magazine and a movie
production company.
Glenn McCarthy died on
26th December, 1988.
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