22 Facts About Conrad Hilton

Conrad Nicholson Hilton was an American hotel magnate and politician who founded the Hilton Hotels chain.

From 1912 to 1916, Hilton was a Republican representative in the first New Mexico Legislature, but became disillusioned with the "inside deals" of politics.

Conrad Hilton continued to buy and sell hotels, and eventually established the world's first international hotel chain.

Conrad Hilton was born on December 25,1887, in San Antonio, Socorro County, New Mexico, to Norwegian-born Augustus Halvorsen Conrad Hilton and Mary Genevieve Laufersweiler, a devout Catholic of German descent.

Conrad Hilton attended the Goss Military Academy and St Michael's College, and the New Mexico School of Mines.

From 1912 to 1916, Conrad Hilton was a Republican representative in the first New Mexico Legislature, when the state was newly formed.

Conrad Hilton became frustrated with the "bureaucracy, slowness, cheating, lying, and inside deals of politics," and in 1916, he refused to run for a fourth term, instead endorsing his longtime political ally, Quianu Robinson.

Conrad Hilton served two years in the United States Army during World War I After completing Officer Training School, he became a second lieutenant, and served in Paris in the Quartermaster Corps.

Conrad Hilton went on to buy and build hotels throughout Texas, including the high-rise Dallas Hilton, which opened in 1925; the Abilene Hilton in 1927; Waco Hilton in 1928; and El Paso Hilton in 1930.

The first hotel outside of Texas that Conrad Hilton built was in 1939 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Conrad Hilton formed the Hilton Hotels Corporation in 1946, and Hilton International Company in 1948.

In 1954, Conrad Hilton Hotels bought The Hotels Statler Company, Inc for $111 million, then the world's largest real estate transaction.

Conrad Hilton later purchased the Carte Blanche Credit Company and an interest in the American Crystal Sugar Company, as well as other enterprises.

Conrad Hilton received honorary degrees from the University of Detroit, DePaul University, Barat College, Adelphi College, Sophia University, Tokyo, and the University of Albuquerque.

Conrad Hilton's autobiography, Be My Guest, was published in 1958 by Prentice Hall.

In 1966, Conrad Hilton was succeeded as president by his son, Barron, and was elected chairman of the board.

In 1950, Conrad Hilton bought Casa Encantada at 10644 Bellagio Road in Bel Air, Los Angeles, and occupied the house until he died in 1979.

In 1957, Conrad Hilton was initiated as a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity at New Mexico State University.

On January 3,1979, Conrad Hilton died of pneumonia at the age of 91.

Conrad Hilton was interred at Calvary Hill Cemetery, a Catholic cemetery in Dallas, Texas.

Conrad Hilton left US$500,000 to his two surviving sons, US$100,000 to his daughter, Francesca, and US$15,000 to each of his grandchildren.

The bulk of Conrad Hilton's estate was left to the Conrad N Hilton Foundation, which he established in 1944.