Glenn McCarthy
Encyclopedia
Glenn Herbert McCarthy was a wildcatter
and a charismatic oil
tycoon. The media often referred to him as "Diamond Glenn" and "The King of the Wildcatters". McCarthy was an oil prospector and entrepreneur who owned many businesses in various sectors of the economy. McCarthy founded the Shamrock Hotel
in Houston, which gained him national fame and inspired the fictional character Jett Rink in Edna Ferber
's 1952 novel Giant along with its 1956 film adaptation which starred James Dean
in the role.
almost seven years after the discovery of oil at Spindletop
. His father, Will McCarthy, worked in the oil fields and from the age of eight Glenn served the roughneck
s as a waterboy for 50 cents a day. During an oil drilling boom near Houston
, the family relocated to the city where his father gained employment. When he was 17 Glenn enlisted in the U.S. Navy and subsequently returned to San Jacinto High School
. He attended Tulane University
on a football scholarship but injured his leg. He later attended Texas A&M
and Rice University
before dropping out of college and venturing into business. When he was 23, McCarthy married 16-year-old Faustine Lee, whose father William Lee was a partner in Yount-Lee Oil Company
. McCarthy later claimed he had less than $1.50 to his name when he got married.
and succeeded. Between 1931 and 1942 he struck oil 38 times.
In 1941 McCarthy bought land where the future Astrodome would be built along with 4800 acres (19.4 km²) of what is now Sharpstown
. During the 1940s he established 11 new oilfields and expanded several others.
in Houston, spending $21,000,000 for its construction. He then held what has been cited as "Houston’s biggest party" for the hotel's grand opening. Dozens of Hollywood celebrities, many of whom were flown in to Houston Municipal Airport
on a Boeing 307
Stratoliner airplane which he had recently acquired from Howard Hughes
.
Like most wildcatters, Glenn was an aggressive investor. His multiple ventures led to a series of financial up and downs. In 1952 a life insurance company acquired title to the Shamrock Hotel, which was then sold to the Hilton Hotels Corporation
. Glenn restructuring his business dealings and persisted. His business holdings included KXYZ
radio station in Houston, two banks, a bar, a brand of bourbon called "Wildcatter", the McCarthy Chemical Company, a magazine, 14 "throwaway" newspapers and a movie production company known as Glenn McCarthy Productions. He served as chairman of the former Eastern Air Lines
and president of the United States Petroleum Association.
area near Galveston. He had four daughters and one son, Glenn Jr. He died on December 26, 1988. He remains a legend and a symbol of the quintessential Texas Oil Millionaire.
Wildcatter
A wildcatter is an American term for a person who drills wildcat wells, which are oil wells drilled in areas not known to be oil fields. A wildcatter notable for his success was Texan oil tycoon Glenn McCarthy....
and a charismatic oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
tycoon. The media often referred to him as "Diamond Glenn" and "The King of the Wildcatters". McCarthy was an oil prospector and entrepreneur who owned many businesses in various sectors of the economy. McCarthy founded the Shamrock Hotel
Shamrock Hotel
The Shamrock was a hotel constructed between 1946 and 1949 by wildcatter Glenn McCarthy southwest of downtown Houston, Texas next to the Texas Medical Center. It was the largest hotel built in the United States during the 1940s. The grand opening of the Shamrock is still cited as one of the...
in Houston, which gained him national fame and inspired the fictional character Jett Rink in Edna Ferber
Edna Ferber
Edna Ferber was an American novelist, short story writer and playwright. Her novels were especially popular and included the Pulitzer Prize-winning So Big , Show Boat , and Giant .-Early years:Ferber was born August 15, 1885, in Kalamazoo, Michigan,...
's 1952 novel Giant along with its 1956 film adaptation which starred James Dean
James Dean
James Byron Dean was an American film actor. He is a cultural icon, best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause , in which he starred as troubled Los Angeles teenager Jim Stark...
in the role.
Early life
McCarthy was born in Beaumont, TexasBeaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
almost seven years after the discovery of oil at Spindletop
Spindletop
Spindletop is a salt dome oil field located in the southern portion of Beaumont, Texas in the United States. The Spindletop dome was derived from the Louann Salt evaporite layer of the Jurassic geologic period. On January 10, 1901, a well at Spindletop struck oil . The new oil field soon produced...
. His father, Will McCarthy, worked in the oil fields and from the age of eight Glenn served the roughneck
Roughneck
Roughneck is a slang term for a person whose occupation is hard-manual labour, typically in a dangerous working environment. The term applies across a number of industries, but is most commonly associated with oil rigs...
s as a waterboy for 50 cents a day. During an oil drilling boom near Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, the family relocated to the city where his father gained employment. When he was 17 Glenn enlisted in the U.S. Navy and subsequently returned to San Jacinto High School
San Jacinto High School (Houston)
San Jacinto High School was a secondary school located at 1300 Holman Street in Houston, Texas; now part of the Houston Community College Central College, Central Campus....
. He attended Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
on a football scholarship but injured his leg. He later attended Texas A&M
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
and Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
before dropping out of college and venturing into business. When he was 23, McCarthy married 16-year-old Faustine Lee, whose father William Lee was a partner in Yount-Lee Oil Company
Yount-Lee Oil Company
The Yount-Lee Oil Company, founded in 1914, was the successor to the Yount-Rothwell Oil Company which had been formed earlier by Miles Franklin Yount and Talbot Frederick Rothwell. Yount headed up the new enterprise and counted among his partners Thomas Peter Lee, William Ellsworth Lee, Emerson...
. McCarthy later claimed he had less than $1.50 to his name when he got married.
Oil
He talked his father and brother into working with him drilling for oil in Hardin County, Texas. The first attempt failed but two years later he made another attempt farther south near AnahuacAnahuac, Texas
Anahuac is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The population of the city was 2,210 at the 2000 census. Anahuac is the seat of Chambers County and is situated in East Texas.- History :...
and succeeded. Between 1931 and 1942 he struck oil 38 times.
In 1941 McCarthy bought land where the future Astrodome would be built along with 4800 acres (19.4 km²) of what is now Sharpstown
Sharpstown, Houston, Texas
Sharpstown is a master-planned community in Greater Sharpstown, Southwest Houston, Texas, United States. It was one of the first communities to be built as a master-planned, automobile centered community and the first in Houston. Frank Sharp, the developer of the subdivision, made provisions not...
. During the 1940s he established 11 new oilfields and expanded several others.
Fame and Notoriety
"Diamond Glenn" drew much attention from the national media due to his charismatic personality and his rags-to-riches story. Both loved and scorned by the media, his image formed the culteral mythos of the Texas oil millionaire. A charming, lucky, unabashed businessman. In 1949 McCarthy built the luxurious Shamrock HotelShamrock Hotel
The Shamrock was a hotel constructed between 1946 and 1949 by wildcatter Glenn McCarthy southwest of downtown Houston, Texas next to the Texas Medical Center. It was the largest hotel built in the United States during the 1940s. The grand opening of the Shamrock is still cited as one of the...
in Houston, spending $21,000,000 for its construction. He then held what has been cited as "Houston’s biggest party" for the hotel's grand opening. Dozens of Hollywood celebrities, many of whom were flown in to Houston Municipal Airport
William P. Hobby Airport
William P. Hobby Airport is a public airport in Houston, Texas, located from Downtown Houston. The airport covers and has four runways. Hobby Airport is Houston's oldest commercial airport and was the city's primary air terminal until the opening of Houston Intercontinental Airport in 1969...
on a Boeing 307
Boeing 307
The Boeing Model 307 Stratoliner was the first commercial transport aircraft with a pressurized cabin. This feature allowed the plane to cruise at an altitude of 20,000 ft , well above weather disturbances. The pressure differential was 2.5 psi , so at 14,700 ft the cabin altitude...
Stratoliner airplane which he had recently acquired from Howard Hughes
Howard Hughes
Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. was an American business magnate, investor, aviator, engineer, film producer, director, and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest people in the world...
.
Like most wildcatters, Glenn was an aggressive investor. His multiple ventures led to a series of financial up and downs. In 1952 a life insurance company acquired title to the Shamrock Hotel, which was then sold to the Hilton Hotels Corporation
Hilton Hotels Corporation
Hilton Worldwide is a global hospitality company. It is owned by the Blackstone Group, a private equity firm. As of July 2011 Hilton brands encompass 3,750 hotels with over 600,000 rooms in 84 countries...
. Glenn restructuring his business dealings and persisted. His business holdings included KXYZ
KXYZ
KXYZ is an AM radio station in Greater Houston, which broadcasts on 1320 kHz under ownership of Multicultural Broadcasting. It has once featured daytime programming from the Biz Radio Network, but it's now a full-time Vietnamese station.-History:...
radio station in Houston, two banks, a bar, a brand of bourbon called "Wildcatter", the McCarthy Chemical Company, a magazine, 14 "throwaway" newspapers and a movie production company known as Glenn McCarthy Productions. He served as chairman of the former Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines was a major United States airline that existed from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:...
and president of the United States Petroleum Association.
Later life
McCarthy avoided publicity during his later career and lived with his wife in the La PorteLa Porte, Texas
La Porte is a city in Harris County, Texas within the Bay Area of the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 31,880...
area near Galveston. He had four daughters and one son, Glenn Jr. He died on December 26, 1988. He remains a legend and a symbol of the quintessential Texas Oil Millionaire.
External links
- Glenn "King of the Wildcatters" McCarthy from the Find-a-Grave website
- George Bush Presidential Library and Museum 100 Tall Texans – Glenn McCarthy
- Glenn H. McCarthy - Great Citizens - 174 Years of Historic Houston
- Glenn McCarthy interviewed by Mike WallaceMike Wallace (journalist)Myron Leon "Mike" Wallace is an American journalist, former game show host, actor and media personality. During his 60+ year career, he has interviewed a wide range of prominent newsmakers....
July 21, 1957 on The Mike Wallace Interview