The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-04-21
BY ROBERT TALLEY
NEA Ser-ice Writer


Copyright. 1882. EEA Service. Incl
DONCA CITY, Okla, April al
L OF all the men who tossed dice
with tickle nature and won in the
great gamble that made Million
aires overnight few years ago
an era that has now passed in the
oil industry-there is no more
colorful figure than Lew Wentz Of
Ponca City.
Wentz is reputedly the richest
man in Oklahoma. A few years
ago, when federal income taxes
were made public, he was one of
the seven men in the United
States paying on an income of
more than 100000 year.
The most unusual thing about
Lew Wentz today is that, despite
the depression and the past years
decline in the oil market, he still
is making money.
Maybe he is not making the
$4,000 a day said to have been
his income for time when the
Oil boom was on, but OklahomanS
say he still is making plenty.
He has turned much of his vast
profits from oil into investments
In many diversified lines.
Unlike others who have sought
to build up great oil companies of
their own and make their names
familiar on gasoline stations from
coast to coast, Wentz has been
content to remain producer.
His one-man oil company owns
leases on perhaps 100000 acres
throughout the Mid Continent
field.
These are checker boarded in
such a way that activity in al
most any Section-diScovery of oil
and sudden soaring of lease values
is likely to enhance his holdings.
LIVERY millionaire is entitled to
IL his hobby, and Wentz has
his. His tastes, however, do not
run to private yachts, stables of
fine race horses or priceless art
collections. The hobby of Okla
homa's millionaire is chill
dren. And, strangely enough, he
is a bachlor.
Wentz is godfather of the
Oklahoma Society for Crippled
Children, which has a great hos
pital in Oklahoma City, built
mostly with his money.
= He has taken hundreds of Grip
pied children in Oklahoma un-
der his protection and made it
possible for them to get treat
ment from the best doctors and
surgeons.
Each Christmas for many years
he has played Santa Claus to
the children of Ponca City. He
contributes money for dolls, toys
and othr gifts and various or
CARNATIONS do the rest.
Each year this bachelor million
aire holds a beauty contest for
unmarried ladies under 6" and
awards prizes. The kids have a
great time.
To the boys of Ponca City he
has recently given magnificent
concrete swimming pool, complete
in every detail, including under
water illumination.
Often, he has engaged the city's
auditorium for free movies for
families who might not otherwise
be able to attend.
He has given large sums to or
phanages and similar institutions
for child care. He has established
$125,000 loan fund at the Uni
versity of Oklahoma and a $75,-
900 loan fund at the state agri-
cultural college to assist deserv-
ing students in getting an educa-
ton.
EOR sentimental reasons, Lew
Il Wentz still lives in a modest
old hotel in Ponca City. When
he came here twenty-one years
ago to seek his fortune in the oil
fields, the place was boarding
house run by Mrs. Annie Rhodes.
Mrs. Rhodes treated him like
a mother, and credited him for
his board bill when his money ran
low.
Today, this venerable lady, who
still lives at the hotel, is one of
VENTS closest friends. He never
has forgotten her; every night
he is in Ponca City they dine to-
gether in his private apartment,
where he has his own servants.
Despite his tremendous wealth,
this Croesus of the oil fields is the
most human of persons. His office,
like his home, is that of man
who hates ostentation. No prying
secretaries or naughty buffers bar
the visitors way.
When I called at his office I
was told that he was in a neigh
boring town and would be back
that evening. At o. m. the tel
ephone in my hotel room rang.
Hello" said the voice. This
is Lew Wentz. How about COM
ing over and having dinner with
me?"
Mrs. Rhodes, a charming gray
haired old lady, with wits that are
exceedingly keen despite her 20
years, also was present. VENTS
secretary and her sister completed
the dinner party.
The occasion was one to i'm
press a visitor Here was the
richest man in whose
wealth easily could buy him
palatial country homes, private
yachts and win him a certain
place in even the highest society
circles-dining simply in an old
downtown hotel with his secretary
and the woman who had be-
friended him as boarding house
keeper as his guests.
DUT the story of Lew wentz'
- rise to riches is well known to
everybody in Ponca City. They
tell you how he grew up as the
son of a Pittsburgh blacksmith.
finished his education in high
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