The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-01-14
HIS IDEAS
BUILT ON .
TRAVEL !
BY Jack Dempsey
(Former Worlds Heavyweight
Champion.)

BY Jack Dempsey
(Former Worlds Heavyweight
Champion.)
Copyright, 1929, by King Features
Syndicate, Inc.)
Tex Richard, the greatest
Snowman of all time, had a
perfect training for his sue
cessful career as promoter.
Many declared it was Rickal d
luck that made his expl citations a
success. But those who really
knew Richard as l did realize that
it was his long study of human
nature that permitted him to make
unusual and startling decisions and
know that they would turn out to
be big drawing cards even in the
face of potential criticism.
say this because in my own
case l feel no one else knew
me as Richard did. He could
sense my slightest reactions and
then show understanding OF
them that was Uncanny.
Tex, it must be remembered, knew
life at the top and bottom. He
started his career as a COW puncher
working on the ranges of Texas.
Later he rode the ranges Of South
America. Those were pioneering
days that called for real "he" men.
And Richard was pioneer-a
leader.
In South Africa ne led diving
expeditions for pearls in the shark
infested waters. Walter Fields,
who was his companion for 20
years, recalled to me today how
Richard used to get a whole crew
Of native boys to form circle IN
the shark ridden waters while
white mar would plunge into the
center of them down to the bed OF
pearls.
The native boys were a protec-
ton against the sharks. Richard
had discovered that the sharks
would not attack the dark-skinned
natives.
Braving the rigOrs Of the
Yukon, Richard went into the
north country i'm search Of
gold. 1t was a diversified pie
ture of life that he had.
From across the business side
Of the faro tables Of old Reno and
Goldfield Richard had human be-
inss ever under the microscope Of
his discerning eye.
It was no wonder his promotions
always were a success. They were
built on ideas he had proven in his
own experience. g.. T.,
Tex told me many times that II
was after the Gans-Nelson fight =
S4oldfield where he offered and pai i.
fba unheard purse of $4,000 for a
fight, that he got the longing IT,
promote big shows. He told me he
loved the roar of the crowds and
enioyed rubbing elbows at tho
ringside.
Tex came to New York, the Con.
stantinople of keen Snowman. and
midst the SCOTS of competitors be.
came the greatest Snowman of All
times. Knowing his public, he
could devise unusual twists to all
his shows, that marked him the
master.
But Tex was best known OF
course as a boxing promoter
though he always was taking
filters in other fields.
remember two years ago I was
travelling with him from Florida 10
New York. A train conductor gave
him a sob" story. He said 10
was about to lose a piece Of prop
erty because he could not make
the final payment on it. Rick
ard pulled out a roll of bills with
out Ticking an eyelash and loaned
him the money. Within few
months the property was sold and
The conductor had a nice profit.
Tex was reimbursed. He always
used to laugh about that incident.
as l had kidded him on the train.
Again he told me that in every
big show he ever staged he could
point to incidents in his early life
that caused him to make the big
decisions.
II learned to look people square
in the eye when l was dealing
faro he used to tell me. my
games always were on the level
and men used to like to have you
look them in the eye."
But even before that
learned to take chances" he
said. black in the cOw.punch-
ing days, and later in the
Yukon where you had to take
chances to stay alive, l was
used to it,"
But the fiercest competition"
he told me with a smile, was
promoting the first shows in New
York. Those fellows in high col
lars, hard hats and city slicker
ways used to get my goat for a
long time. used to think they
were tougher than the gun.toting
boys l had lived with. But after
a few years l got to like them
best of all. I found they were
only drugstore cowboys with
sound hearts,
Although Tex always drove a
hard bargain he was one of the
softest hearted men / ever knew
in his personal affairs. He was one
OF the easiest men in the world TO
get money from. can recall
scores of other cases where down
and cutters who had a reputation
for being on the level could get any
sum from Tex. That was all he