Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-21
ATCHISON' IS.
A N GL E
By LEWIS +. ATcHlsoN

= lllllAllAtoA
It has been q years since Tex
Rickard died, and a generation
has grown up without knowing
the story of probably the greatest
sports promoter this country has
known.
Tex's saga was spelled out in
a book written by his widow.
with the cooperation of Arch
Oboler, but it came out during
the depression and didn't sell.
Since then no publisher seems
interested in bringing out a re-
print. Mrs. Rickard can't un-
derstand why, and neither
can we.
Richards life would make an
interesting movie, but efforts to
sell the story have failed. You
hear about Hollywood preparing
to film Jack Dempsey's life. but
does the old champions biog-
raphy pack more drama and
punch than that Of the gambler
rose from rags to riches?
Mrs. Rickard has lived in
Washington for 10 years. She
was employed until q couple of
months ago at the FILA and now
is looking for another position.
Her three years Of married life
with Tex. 80 years her senior,
were happy ones. Mrs. Rickard
lived a life of regal luxury, but
there wasn't much left Of Tex's
estate when administrators toted
up the score. for he had been too
free with money in some respects,
too trusting in others.
HE chartered a private car
to take us to Miami" Mrs.
Richard was telling us, because
with it he got a chef who made
good homemade bread and hot
biscuits. I saw him tip 500 at
a nightclub party, but later climb
to the top of the old Madison
Square Garden to turn out a
light someone had left burning
He wasn't stingy but in some
things. like that light. he was
frugal"
Tex had more poise than any
man she ever knew, Mrs. Richard
told us. He dressed conserva-
lively. preferred dark bow ties,
but always carried a cane after
an Argentine tailor told him his
figure was suited to a walking
stick. Tex loved to be identified
as a promoter, but bristled if
called a fight manager. Tex must
have discovered something about
the managerial breed that went
against the grain.
Rickard was kind and thought
full about his family, she said.
Mrs. Rickard was not permitted
to do homework and on cooks
day of he took charge and could
whip up a tasty meal featuring
steak and potatoes
cts ironical," Mrs. Rickard
said, that he always felt bad
and thought it was a shame when
he heard of a woman who had
to go to work after her husbands
DEATH"
Tex had some peculiar habits,
such as drinking beer and eating
watermelon together on a warm
day. And he had some super
stitions. One pet superstition
concerned life insurance. Buy
ing a policy, he thought, was
inviting bad luck and when he
died his money was scattered
around in various ventures, much
of it unaccounted for.
Tex usually wore only two
pieces of jewelry, a pearl stick
pin and a plain gold ring with
three. diamond chips. Mrs,
Richard doubts that the ring
had any great value, but it must
have been of inestimable senti-
mental worth to him because
she never saw it of his finger.
When their only child, a
daughter, was born. Tex wanted
her christened Texine, but Mrs.
Rickard thought it sounded too
much like gasoline. They COM
promised on Maxine Texas
Rickard, now Mrs. Edwin Good
fellow of Vienna. Va, and the
mother of two children, 8-year-
old Edwin Richard and 6-year-
old Joan Christine.