The Rags-To-Riches Rise Of ‘Mister Fort Worth’
Like a page out of so many American success stories, the remarkable rags-to-riches rise of Amon Giles Carter began in a cabin in Wise County on Dec. 11, 1879.
Like a page out of so many American success stories, the remarkable rags-to-riches rise of Amon Giles Carter began in a cabin in Wise County on Dec. 11, 1879.
The future champion and tireless benefactor of Forth Worth dropped out of school after the fifth grade to help put food on the family table. The child capitalist recycled whiskey bottles for saloonkeepers and sold fried chicken to hungry passengers down at the train station.
Carter was scarcely out of his teens, when he traveled from coast to coast peddling custom portraits. Returning to Texas in 1905 with a sizable nest egg, he settled in Fort Worth and went into advertising.
The following year, Carter and a couple of veteran newspapermen launched the “Fort Worth Star.” He soon bought out his evening competitor and merged the two dailies into “The Star-Telegram” which debuted on New Year’s Day 1909.
The local link in the Hearst chain was “The Record,” a morning paper that never showed a profit. Carter turned down a bid from William Randolph Hearst for “The Star-Telegram” but offered to take “The Record” off his hands. The godfather of yellow journalism agreed and pulled out of Fort Worth.
Amon Carter was Cowtown’s biggest booster and an outspoken detractor of its rival to the east. As Vice-President John Nance Garner explained with characteristic candor, “That man wants the whole government of the United States to be run for the exclusive benefit of Fort Worth and, if possible, to the detriment of Dallas.”
Carter went to amusing extremes to display his disdain. Whenever his presence was demanded in Big D during the noon hour, he would take his lunch in a paper sack to avoid having to buy a meal. By the same token, he proudly sported a five o’clock shadow rather than pay for an out-of-town shave. He also reportedly passed out thousands of cards that read: “Please flush twice when you use the washroom. Dallas needs the water.”
When Dallas won the right to host the Texas Centennial, Carter countered with the $2.5 million Texas Frontier Centennial. Showman Billy Rose presented his musical “Jumbo” on the revolving stage of the specially constructed Casa Manana amphitheater, while fan dancer Sally Rand entertained audiences with her adults-only “Nude Ranch.”
The tragic death of Will Rogers in an Alaska plane crash plunged the whole country into mourning in August 1935. People from all walks of life felt like they had lost a friend, but for Amon Carter the grief was painfully personal.
The pugnacious Texan and the folksy Okie had been buddies since their paths crossed in the early 1920’s. “The Star-Telegram” carried both of Rogers’ syndicated columns, and a perpetually lighted photography of his pal adorned Carter’s desk.
Carter was in Washington, D.C., when the dreadful news was flashed around the world. He immediately flew back to Fort Worth stopping only long enough to pack a bag before making a connection for Seattle.
Carter succeeded in meeting the aircraft carrying Rogers’ remains. He accompanied the body on the red-eye to Los Angeles sitting up all night to watch over the casket.
As a permanent tribute to his dead friend, Carter spearheaded construction of the Will Rogers Coliseum and Auditorium. Although the choice of Fort Worth over the honoree’s native state caused considerable confusion in congress, the federal government went right ahead and picked up half of the $1.9 million tab.
Next on Carter’s agenda was the Will Rogers Memorial Fund for poor and crippled children. As chairman of the charity, he approached Guy and Paul Waggoner about holding a benefit at their popular horse track between Dallas and Fort Worth.
For Amon Carter to ask a favor of W.T. Waggoner’s sons must have required swallowing a heaping helping of pride. Cowtown had never been big enough for the two tycoons, whose egos and interests came into conflict as regular as clockwork.
An example of their mutual animosity was Waggoner’s refusal to be photographed for “The Star-Telegram” shortly before his death in 1934. Waving a silver dollar at the startled cameraman, he snapped, “Take a picture of this. This is the only dollar Amon Carter didn’t know I had left.”
After paying off the owners whose horses finished in the money, “Will Rogers Day” at Arlington Downs cleared $17,407. The Waggoner brothers took out the state’s share, which came to $3,851, and remitted the rest to the charity.
Infuriated by the tax deduction, which was required by law, Carter refused to accept the check. He preferred instead to sue the Waggoners for the entire amount which he charged they had “retained, kept and converted to their own use.”
The emotional matter was eventually settled out of court, but Amon Carter would not let it go at that. He lent his influential support to the crusade to prohibit pari-mutuel horse racing, and two years later Arlington Downs bit the dust.
(Christmas Special! Order “Outlaws & Lawmen” and “Revolution & Republic” at regular price of $28.40 (s&h inc) and receive a free copy of “Secession & Civil War” – newest “Best of This Week in Texas History” collection. Mail payment to Bartee Haile, P.O. Box 152, Friendswood, TX or order on-line at twith.com.)
