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Howard Robard Hughes Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American business magnate, investor, record-setting pilot, engineer,[4] film director, and philanthropist, known during his lifetime as one of the most financially successful individuals in the world. He first became prominent as a film producer, and then as an influential figure in the aviation industry. Later in life, he became known for his eccentric behavior and reclusive lifestyle—oddities that were caused in part by a worsening obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), chronic pain from a near-fatal plane crash, and increasing deafness.
As a maverick film tycoon, Hughes gained fame in Hollywood beginning in the late 1920s, when he produced big-budget and often controversial films such as The Racket (1928),[5] Hell's Angels (1930),[6] and Scarface (1932). Later he controlled the RKO film studio.
Hughes formed the Hughes Aircraft Company in 1932, hiring numerous engineers and designers. He spent the rest of the 1930s and much of the 1940s setting multiple world air speed records and building the Hughes H-1 Racer and H-4 Hercules (the Spruce Goose). He acquired and expanded Trans World Airlines and later acquired Air West, renaming it Hughes Airwest. Hughes was included in Flying Magazine's list of the 51 Heroes of Aviation, ranked at No. 25.[7] Today, his legacy is maintained through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Howard Hughes Corporation.[8]
As a maverick film tycoon, Hughes gained fame in Hollywood beginning in the late 1920s, when he produced big-budget and often controversial films such as The Racket (1928),[5] Hell's Angels (1930),[6] and Scarface (1932). Later he controlled the RKO film studio.
Hughes formed the Hughes Aircraft Company in 1932, hiring numerous engineers and designers. He spent the rest of the 1930s and much of the 1940s setting multiple world air speed records and building the Hughes H-1 Racer and H-4 Hercules (the Spruce Goose). He acquired and expanded Trans World Airlines and later acquired Air West, renaming it Hughes Airwest. Hughes was included in Flying Magazine's list of the 51 Heroes of Aviation, ranked at No. 25.[7] Today, his legacy is maintained through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Howard Hughes Corporation.[8]
Howard Hughes - Wikipedia
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In Search Of History - The Mysterious Howard Hughes (History Channel Documentary)
Narrated by David Ackroyd Special thanks to Ed at Edward's History Hub for his help in making this upload possible! Check out his documentary channel https:/...
Thank you, my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that Christmas Eve [December 24] in the anniversary of the birth of American business magnate, investor, record-setting pilot, engineer, film director, and philanthropist Howard Robard Hughes Jr.
1. Background from
"Howard Hughes was a businessman, a movie producer, and an aviator; however, he is perhaps best remembered for spending his later years as an eccentric, reclusive billionaire.
Dates: December 24, 1905 -- April 5, 1976
Also Known As: Howard Robard Hughes, Jr.
Howard Hughes' Father Makes Millions
Howard Hughes' father, Howard Hughes Sr., made his fortune by designing a drill bit that could drill through hard rock. Before this new bit, oil drillers weren't able to reach the large pockets of oil lying beneath the hard rock.
Howard Hughes Sr. and a colleague established the Sharp-Hughes Tool Company, which held the patent for the new drill bit, manufactured the bit, and leased the bit to oil companies.
Howard Hughes' Childhood
Though he grew up in a wealthy household, Howard Hughes Jr. had difficulty focusing on school and changed schools often. Rather than sitting in a classroom, Hughes preferred to learn by tinkering with mechanical things. For instance, when his mother forbade him from having a motorcycle, he built a motorcycle by building a motor and adding it to his bicycle.
Hughes was a loner in his youth. With one notable exception, Hughes never really had any friends.
Tragedy and Wealth
When Hughes was just 16-years old, his doting mother passed away. Then, not even two years later, his father also suddenly died. Howard Hughes received 75% of his father's million-dollar estate.(the other 25% went to relatives.)
Hughes immediately disagreed with his relatives over the running of Hughes Tool Company, but being only 18-years old, Hughes could not do anything about it because he would not legally be considered an adult until age 21.
Frustrated but determined, Hughes went to court and got a judge to grant him legal adulthood. He then bought out his relatives' shares of the company. At age 19, Hughes became full owner of the company and also got married (to Ella Rice).
Making Movies
In 1925, Hughes and his wife decided to move to Hollywood and spend some time with Hughes' uncle, Rupert, who was a screenwriter.
Hughes quickly became enchanted with movie making. Hughes jumped right in and filmed Swell Hogan but quickly realized it wasn't good so he never released it. Learning from his mistakes, Hughes continued making movies. His third, Two Arabian Knights won an Oscar.
With one success under his belt, Hughes wanted to make an epic about aviation and set to work on Hell's Angels. It became his obsession. His wife, tired of being neglected, divorced him. Hughes continued making films, producing over 25 of them.
Hughes as an Aviator
In 1932, Hughes had a new obsession -- aviation. He formed the Hughes Aircraft Company and bought several airplanes and hired numerous engineers and designers.
He wanted a quicker, faster plane. He spent the rest of the 1930s setting new speed records. In 1938, he flew around the world, breaking Wiley Post's record. Though Hughes was given a ticker-tape parade on his arrival in New York, he was already showing signs of wanting to shun the public spotlight.
In 1944, Hughes won a government contract to design a large, flying boat that could carry both people and supplies to the war in Europe. The "Spruce Goose," the largest plane ever constructed, was flown successfully in 1947 and then never flown again.
Hughes' company also developed a chain feeder for the machine guns on bombers and later built helicopters.
Becoming a Recluse
By the mid-1950s, Hughes' dislike of being a public figure began to severely affect his life. Though he married actress Jean Peters in 1957, he began to avoid public appearances.
He traveled for a bit, then in 1966, he moved to Las Vegas, where he holed himself up in the Desert Inn Hotel. When the hotel threatened to evict him, he purchased the hotel. He also bought several other hotels and property in Las Vegas. For the next several years, hardly a single person saw Hughes. He had become so reclusive that he nearly never left his hotel suite.
Hughes' Final Years
In 1970, Hughes' marriage ended, and he left Las Vegas. He moved from one country to another and died in 1976, aboard an airplane, while traveling from Acapulco, Mexico to Houston, Texas.
Hughes had become such a hermit in his last years that no one was sure it was Hughes that had died, so the Treasury Department had to use fingerprints to confirm the death of billionaire Howard Hughes."
2. Background from softschools.com/facts/biography/howard_hughes_facts/3421/
"Howard Hughes Facts
Howard Hughes was an American film director, business magnate, pilot, and one of the most financially successful people of his time. He was born Howard Robard Hughes Jr. on September 24th, 1905, in Humble, Texas, to Howard R. Hughes Sr., and Allene Stone Gano. His father was a successful inventor. Howard developed an interest in technology and in science while he was a child. He was one of the first ham radio operators to be licensed in Houston. He was the first boy in Houston to have a motorized bike. He began taking flying lessons when he was only 14. He attended Caltech and went on to have a successful career in engineering, filmmaking, and as a pilot. He was also one of the wealthiest men in the world.
Interesting Howard Hughes Facts:
Howard's parents died before he was an adult and he inherited 75% of their estate.
Howard attended Rice University in the 1920s but dropped out to pursue movie making.
In 1926 Howard Hughes began to use some of the money he inherited from his parents to finance films including Hell's Angels, Scarface (1932), and the Outlaw (1941).
Howard Hughes developed a reputation as a playboy in Hollywood and was known to date Ginger Rogers, Ava Gardner, and Katherine Hepburn.
In the early 1930s Howard Hughes passion for flying inspired him to found his own aircraft company so that he could design and build airplanes.
Howard took chances with his flying endeavors and tested aircraft and even set speed records in the 1930s.
Howard Hughes circumnavigated the globe in 1938 with a four man crew, setting a new record with a time of 3 days, 19 hours, and 17 minutes. There was a ticker tape parade in NYC and celebrations around the U.S. for his accomplishment.
Howard Hughes was credited with developing the first retractable landing gear.
Howard Hughes built a very large wooden sea plane which was nicknamed the Spruce Goose by the press. It was an H-4 Hercules that Hughes was contracted to build by the U.S. government. He later had to testify before Congress because of its expense. He flew it only once to prove it could fly.
The Spruce Goose is kept in the Evergreen Aviation Museum in Oregon today.
In 1946 Howard Hughes was involved in a horrible plane crash. After the accident he became a recluse.
In 1948 Howard Hughes became part of RKO Pictures but because of the plane crash he never even visited the studio.
Howard lived on the top floor of a hotel in Las Vegas in the 1960s but then moved abroad.
A supposed authorized biography about Howard Hughes was released in 1972 but the author Clifford Irving was found to be lying. He later served time for fraud.
Howard Hughes died on April 5th, 1976 and an autopsy later concluded the cause of death to be kidney failure. He was severely malnourished. He was laid to rest at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston, Texas next to his mother and father.
Howard Hughes net worth at the time of his death was $1.5 billion, which would be approximately $6.31 billion today."
In Search Of History - The Mysterious Howard Hughes (History Channel Documentary)
https://youtu.be/PgxhLd-9SRQ?t=21
FYI LTC Jeff ShearerSGT Philip RoncariCWO3 Dennis M.SGT (Join to see)PO3 Bob McCordSGT Jim Arnold PO3 Phyllis Maynard Maj Robert Thornton SPC Douglas Bolton Cynthia Croft PO1 H Gene Lawrence PVT Karl Goode PO2 Kevin Parker SGT James Murphy SFC Michael Young MSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-Hardy SGT Rick Colburn SSgt Boyd Herrst
1. Background from
"Howard Hughes was a businessman, a movie producer, and an aviator; however, he is perhaps best remembered for spending his later years as an eccentric, reclusive billionaire.
Dates: December 24, 1905 -- April 5, 1976
Also Known As: Howard Robard Hughes, Jr.
Howard Hughes' Father Makes Millions
Howard Hughes' father, Howard Hughes Sr., made his fortune by designing a drill bit that could drill through hard rock. Before this new bit, oil drillers weren't able to reach the large pockets of oil lying beneath the hard rock.
Howard Hughes Sr. and a colleague established the Sharp-Hughes Tool Company, which held the patent for the new drill bit, manufactured the bit, and leased the bit to oil companies.
Howard Hughes' Childhood
Though he grew up in a wealthy household, Howard Hughes Jr. had difficulty focusing on school and changed schools often. Rather than sitting in a classroom, Hughes preferred to learn by tinkering with mechanical things. For instance, when his mother forbade him from having a motorcycle, he built a motorcycle by building a motor and adding it to his bicycle.
Hughes was a loner in his youth. With one notable exception, Hughes never really had any friends.
Tragedy and Wealth
When Hughes was just 16-years old, his doting mother passed away. Then, not even two years later, his father also suddenly died. Howard Hughes received 75% of his father's million-dollar estate.(the other 25% went to relatives.)
Hughes immediately disagreed with his relatives over the running of Hughes Tool Company, but being only 18-years old, Hughes could not do anything about it because he would not legally be considered an adult until age 21.
Frustrated but determined, Hughes went to court and got a judge to grant him legal adulthood. He then bought out his relatives' shares of the company. At age 19, Hughes became full owner of the company and also got married (to Ella Rice).
Making Movies
In 1925, Hughes and his wife decided to move to Hollywood and spend some time with Hughes' uncle, Rupert, who was a screenwriter.
Hughes quickly became enchanted with movie making. Hughes jumped right in and filmed Swell Hogan but quickly realized it wasn't good so he never released it. Learning from his mistakes, Hughes continued making movies. His third, Two Arabian Knights won an Oscar.
With one success under his belt, Hughes wanted to make an epic about aviation and set to work on Hell's Angels. It became his obsession. His wife, tired of being neglected, divorced him. Hughes continued making films, producing over 25 of them.
Hughes as an Aviator
In 1932, Hughes had a new obsession -- aviation. He formed the Hughes Aircraft Company and bought several airplanes and hired numerous engineers and designers.
He wanted a quicker, faster plane. He spent the rest of the 1930s setting new speed records. In 1938, he flew around the world, breaking Wiley Post's record. Though Hughes was given a ticker-tape parade on his arrival in New York, he was already showing signs of wanting to shun the public spotlight.
In 1944, Hughes won a government contract to design a large, flying boat that could carry both people and supplies to the war in Europe. The "Spruce Goose," the largest plane ever constructed, was flown successfully in 1947 and then never flown again.
Hughes' company also developed a chain feeder for the machine guns on bombers and later built helicopters.
Becoming a Recluse
By the mid-1950s, Hughes' dislike of being a public figure began to severely affect his life. Though he married actress Jean Peters in 1957, he began to avoid public appearances.
He traveled for a bit, then in 1966, he moved to Las Vegas, where he holed himself up in the Desert Inn Hotel. When the hotel threatened to evict him, he purchased the hotel. He also bought several other hotels and property in Las Vegas. For the next several years, hardly a single person saw Hughes. He had become so reclusive that he nearly never left his hotel suite.
Hughes' Final Years
In 1970, Hughes' marriage ended, and he left Las Vegas. He moved from one country to another and died in 1976, aboard an airplane, while traveling from Acapulco, Mexico to Houston, Texas.
Hughes had become such a hermit in his last years that no one was sure it was Hughes that had died, so the Treasury Department had to use fingerprints to confirm the death of billionaire Howard Hughes."
2. Background from softschools.com/facts/biography/howard_hughes_facts/3421/
"Howard Hughes Facts
Howard Hughes was an American film director, business magnate, pilot, and one of the most financially successful people of his time. He was born Howard Robard Hughes Jr. on September 24th, 1905, in Humble, Texas, to Howard R. Hughes Sr., and Allene Stone Gano. His father was a successful inventor. Howard developed an interest in technology and in science while he was a child. He was one of the first ham radio operators to be licensed in Houston. He was the first boy in Houston to have a motorized bike. He began taking flying lessons when he was only 14. He attended Caltech and went on to have a successful career in engineering, filmmaking, and as a pilot. He was also one of the wealthiest men in the world.
Interesting Howard Hughes Facts:
Howard's parents died before he was an adult and he inherited 75% of their estate.
Howard attended Rice University in the 1920s but dropped out to pursue movie making.
In 1926 Howard Hughes began to use some of the money he inherited from his parents to finance films including Hell's Angels, Scarface (1932), and the Outlaw (1941).
Howard Hughes developed a reputation as a playboy in Hollywood and was known to date Ginger Rogers, Ava Gardner, and Katherine Hepburn.
In the early 1930s Howard Hughes passion for flying inspired him to found his own aircraft company so that he could design and build airplanes.
Howard took chances with his flying endeavors and tested aircraft and even set speed records in the 1930s.
Howard Hughes circumnavigated the globe in 1938 with a four man crew, setting a new record with a time of 3 days, 19 hours, and 17 minutes. There was a ticker tape parade in NYC and celebrations around the U.S. for his accomplishment.
Howard Hughes was credited with developing the first retractable landing gear.
Howard Hughes built a very large wooden sea plane which was nicknamed the Spruce Goose by the press. It was an H-4 Hercules that Hughes was contracted to build by the U.S. government. He later had to testify before Congress because of its expense. He flew it only once to prove it could fly.
The Spruce Goose is kept in the Evergreen Aviation Museum in Oregon today.
In 1946 Howard Hughes was involved in a horrible plane crash. After the accident he became a recluse.
In 1948 Howard Hughes became part of RKO Pictures but because of the plane crash he never even visited the studio.
Howard lived on the top floor of a hotel in Las Vegas in the 1960s but then moved abroad.
A supposed authorized biography about Howard Hughes was released in 1972 but the author Clifford Irving was found to be lying. He later served time for fraud.
Howard Hughes died on April 5th, 1976 and an autopsy later concluded the cause of death to be kidney failure. He was severely malnourished. He was laid to rest at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston, Texas next to his mother and father.
Howard Hughes net worth at the time of his death was $1.5 billion, which would be approximately $6.31 billion today."
In Search Of History - The Mysterious Howard Hughes (History Channel Documentary)
https://youtu.be/PgxhLd-9SRQ?t=21
FYI LTC Jeff ShearerSGT Philip RoncariCWO3 Dennis M.SGT (Join to see)PO3 Bob McCordSGT Jim Arnold PO3 Phyllis Maynard Maj Robert Thornton SPC Douglas Bolton Cynthia Croft PO1 H Gene Lawrence PVT Karl Goode PO2 Kevin Parker SGT James Murphy SFC Michael Young MSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-Hardy SGT Rick Colburn SSgt Boyd Herrst
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