The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-30
SPORT Snap Shots
BY JACK KEENE

Tex Richard has associated himself
with only big things in the promoting
business, and the foundation of his
present high standing in the promot-
ing end of the fight game rest on three
memorable battles he arranged. Incl
dentally all three matches were gamb-
ling propositions, but Richard, reck-
less gambler, took his chances and
was successful in al 1.-The adventures.
The first big ring event was the Mel
son-Gans contest at Goldfeld, New, in
1906. The receipts of the battle
amounted to $69,715. For his labor.
Richard took $4,000. The Johnson
Jeffries contest at Reno. New, in 1910,
was his second big match, and for this
he received about $4,000. and his
third adventure was the Willard Nor
an battle, staged in the Garden few
years ago. 1t netted the promoter
about $4,000.
Richard evolved the idea for his
first venture as a promoter in New
York. He did not have any too rluch
money, bue was interested in a gamb-
ling house in GoldAeld, small mining
town. While he lacked the necessary
financial backing for big match he
possessed nerve-nerve of a gambler.
Before Nelson and Cans coudd be
brought together purse of $4,000
had to be guaranteed. In those days
a guarantee of such huge proportion
was thing unheard of, and many ex-
perienced promoters called Richard
fool. Tex went through with 1t and
its result Is history. Besides starting
the adventurer on a career as a pro-
moter 1t put Coldfield, New, on the
map. The battle demonstrated to
Richard the possibilities of wealth
through the promotion of big ring con-
tests. and when the time came for a
white man to wrest the heavyweight
championship from Johnson the dar-
ing gambler persuaded Je6ries to
come out OF retirement
In order to make Johnson-Jeffries
match a reality Richard was forced to
assume great financial burdens. He
had to guarantee a purse Of $l01, 900
to be split between the principals.
sixty per cent. to the winner and forty
to the loser. In addition each man
was to be given bonus OF $4,000.
1t was indeed reckless gambling. but
Richard luck prevailed and the battle
drew a gate of $270,775. Richard and
his partner in the historic venture d.
vided about $125.00O between them.
Not until Jess Willard was crowned
heavyweight champion did another
chance for cleanup come to the pro-
moter. Frank Moran attracted his at.
tention. Richard thought that a match
between Willard and Moran would be
a big thing. Local promoters did not |
make any attempt to bring the two
heavyweights together. so Richard !
stepped in and made the match. He |
gave willard a guarantee OF s47.50O !
and Moran half that amount The |
show drew $4,000, and when 1t was
over Richard was about $4,000 richer
While he is not engaged in doing
big thing In the fight game Richard is
looking after a 100000 acre cattle |
ranch in South America. He was born
In Kansas City and has been at vari-
Gus times a cowboy. gambler. miner
and wood chopper, but always a SOL
der of fortune.
Yale athletes will practice morning
AMI afternoon in preliminary trials to
fit themselves to gain places on vari-
Gus squads this year
Pacific Coast Baseball league will
begin its season April s.
New York Americans will 20 to
Jacksonville for spring training.
Mrs. Cora kilborn succeeded her
husband as sheriff Of Harper county,
Texas. following his death recently