Barron Hilton
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William Barron Hilton (born October 23, 1927) is an American heir and co-chairman of the Hilton Hotel chain.
He was born in Dallas, Texas, the second son of Conrad Nicholson Hilton and Mary Adelaide Barron. His father founded Hilton Hotels. His brothers are Erik Hilton, and the late Conrad Nicholson Hilton, Jr., called "Nicky", who was actress Elizabeth Taylor's first husband (1950). He also has a younger half-sister, Francesca Hilton, whose mother is Zsa Zsa Gabor.
Barron was active for several years in organizing and managing businesses in Los Angeles, and was also a member of the board of directors of the Statler Hotels Delaware Corporation and of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
In 1954, he was elected a vice-president of Hilton Hotels Corporation, of which his father was president. The announcement was made on November 16, 1954, by P. Williford, Executive Vice President.
Barron also became president of the Carte Blanche credit card firm, was owner of a $6,000,000 orange juice company, head of a business leasing jets and an investor in a Texas oil company.
In 1960, Barron founded the Los Angeles Chargers team of the new American Football League. He moved his team to San Diego for the 1961 season. The team played in the first two American Football League championships, losing both to the Houston Oilers.
Barron Hilton assumed the presidency of the Hilton Hotel chain in 1966. In 1970, he was responsible for getting Hilton Hotels into the gambling business.
When Barron's father died in 1979, he left the bulk of his estate to the Roman Catholic Church and other charities, and almost nothing to his children. Barron contested the will because of his lifelong career of working to build the hotel company and won his lawsuit in 1988. His sister, Francesca (b. 1947), lost her case though and received nothing.
In the Forbes 400, which lists the 400 Richest Americans, Barron Hilton's worth in 2006 is $1.0 billion.[1]
[edit] Aviation
Barron Hilton first took flying lessons when stationed in Hawaii during World War II. After the war he attended the University of Southern California's Aeronautical School where he earned his twin engine rating. Because of his interest in aircraft, he founded the Air Finance Corporation and began leasing and selling commercial aircraft in 1955.
Today he privately owns a Cessna Citation V Ultra which he uses for both corporate and personal travel. He also owns and flies four gliders and a tow plane, a Stearman biplane, a Citabria aerobatic plane, a helicopter, a restored Beech Staggerwing, and three hot air balloons. Hilton was also the lead sponsor of two teams that tried to fly around the world in balloons.
Barron Hilton has encouraged the sport of gliding through the Barron Hilton Cup since 1981. Pilots who have completed the longest triangular flights are invited from around the world, with their guests, by Barron Hilton for a week-long soaring camp at the Flying-M-Ranch in Nevada. The objective is for the best pilots to get to know each other and to fly with some of the other best soaring pilots.
He has been honored for his support of flying by several aviation organizations.
[edit] Family
Barron married former Santa Monica, California, cheerleader Marilyn Hawley in 1947. They are the parents of eight children:
- William Barron Hilton, Jr. (born January 31, 1948);
- Hawley Anne Hilton (born November 23, 1949);
- Steven Michael Hilton (born November 9, 1950);
- David Alan Hilton (born June 2, 1952);
- Sharon Constance Hilton (born December 23, 1953);
- Richard Howard "Rick" Hilton (born August 17, 1955);
- Daniel Kevin Hilton (born January 25, 1962); and
- Ronald Jeffrey Hilton (born April 27, 1963).
Barron Hilton's wife, Marilyn, died in March 2004. Their son, Rick, is the father of the celebrity sisters Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton. Also their younger brother, Barron Hilton, is named after his paternal grandfather.
[edit] See also
Other American Football League players, coaches and contributors
