Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-01-11
BY WILLIAM RIFT
Central Press sports Writer
'CoDyrirht Ie9 nv Central Pres,

Copyright, 1929. by Central fress
Association, lne.)
NEW YORK, Jan. ll.-A small
sport cartoon hastily drawn in the
hustle and furry Of a fight camp
worlds spotlight on Tex Richard. In
turn IL gave the most famous Of fight
promoters his first taste of tina;
gold-lined Gelieaey which has become
the bread and butter Of ali profess
sional sPorts-publeity.
The cartoon as a cartoon wasn't
much. RUhc Goldberg, who drew il
AMI who since has become famous
HIMSELF wal just then learning the
arts Of his trade. But il had tre-
meRdous effort for the ring and
those who live ~ IT.
Buried on an inside sports Page
p a ssh Francisco newspaper. the
craving introduced Richard to the
fight world. And il gave Tex his
first idea Of the value Of the bslly-
hoo. which powerful medium brought
him riches and International fame.
The cartoon wa drawn By Gold
herE in 1906 as he acted as a sports
correspondent IN tho training camp
cf Joe Gar-. c1lorcd li-htFei.ht, AZ
G0idacld. ,iey.. where Cans vas TO
fight Batting Nelson.
a purae ~ s3G.000-a tremendous
sum for such things ~ those days
had been put up for the battle. A
mid hammered, quiet s~aloonkeep.r
named George /. Richard had been
selected stakeholder though fighters
and fights were all Greek 70 him.
\ sports editor had a bright idea.
v hy not 2 story aud cartoon on this
qussr fellow who handled the purse
or a big fight and yet didn't know
what II vas all aboIt7 Goldberg
got the assignment and filled it.
TIE fight was a success. II made
MONEY and gave Richard. who had
s-cn ihr caricature Of himself, an
dc1. ~ Gee. This boxing business
Nas . gold NINE II a fellow ran
his shona r'rht and cot enough
notices N The PAPER he'd max.
money.
SO Kic.ard pulled out OF tic ,sloon
business and sHterrd san Francisco
a. = fight promoter. The cartoon
had done ITS work. Tee fighters and
the fight fans knew him.
CpEplif.. his uncanny luck and lis
4snse Of publicity. l,ickard gaze the
other promoters a tasty beating. lie
was the greatest gambler Of them
all. lie put up bigger purses. Pre-
pared for bigger crowd. lie took
bigger chance. And nearly always
nc camc out OF ton.
The fight game bad been the sport
Of l0wbrows IN san fraaci 90 as well
a. cvcryv here clsc. Richard went
ia for reform because reform meant
more aud better customers, and that
meant money.
T-x drove out th- buns a. best he
CrHld. ile made sure that when q
mar bought a reserved seat u one
Of his shows he got II and didn't
have 10 kick 4 drunken bum out OF
II hrst. lie made the fi-hts safe
for women TO attend. lie even
brought the stiff shirts 10 his shows,
a most remarkable thing.
The spotlight OF publicity around
Richard grew bigger. less Willard,
the heavyweight champion. needed z
fight. Tex matched him vith Young
Jack Demricy. A huge crowd saw
the battle at Toledo. o., and rsid n
fortane nearly a half m~illion-for
the privilege. Richard, who put the
show over. was a national figure.
The sport world gsSped. Richard.
In New York now. matched Champion
Jack Dempsey and Georges 'arpen-
tier for What was known a. the bat
tic % the century. over 4 million
and q half resulted IL gate receipts.
though most everyone knew before
hand the Frcnchnian hadn't a chance.
Richard luck. Richard brains and