Sam Maceo
Salvatore V. "Sam" Maceo (; March 1, 1894 – April 16, 1951) was an American business entrepreneur, power broker and racketeer in Galveston, Texas, who controlled both the government and organized crime in the city for almost 30 years. During the 1920s and 1930s, Galveston emerged as a nationally known resort city, because of the gambling, prostitution and free flowing liquor, vices that were offered at the backrooms of restaurants and nightclubs, a period known as Galveston's "Open Era". His organization, often called the Maceo Syndicate or the Maceo Organisation, was involved in illegal gambling, prostitution, numbers racket and  bootlegging and he received substantial income from these activities. At the height of his power, he was able to control both the government and organized crime in the city. Sometimes known as the "Velvet Glove," Sam held considerable criminal and political influence in Southeast Texas and soon expanded his empire throughout the state. During his lifetime he and his island home were known nationwide. Early life. Salvatore V. Maceo was born in Palermo, Sicily to Vito Maceo and Angelina Sansone in 1894. He had three brothers, Rosario (Rose), Vincent, and Frank. In 1901 the Maceo family immigrated to Leesville, Louisiana  in the United States. He moved to Galveston in 1910, shortly before World War I, to start a business with his brother Rose. Rise to power. As Prohibition took hold Sam and Rose began to give gifts of wine that they were able to smuggle to their customers. As their customers became more interested in the liquor they gradually became more serious bootleggers. Maceo allied himself with local gang leader and power broker Ollie Quinn and opened a speakeasy. Eventually Quinn became Sam's mentor and associate. He and the brothers opened the Hollywood Dinner Club, the Gulf coast's  most elegant night club at the time. Sam's smooth personality quickly made him the "face" of the nightclub. The arrest of Quinn allowed Sam and his brother, Rosario, to gain control of Galveston. Their other big venture, besides the Hollywood, was a club and casino called Maceo's Grotto which opened in 1929. The Maceos soon controlled most of the gambling, prostitution, and other vice on the city. Their wealth and Sam's ability to deal with influential figures allowed him to exert increasing influence over politics. Maceo cultivated relationships with businessmen and politicians throughout Galveston including William L.  Moody, head of one of Galveston's most prominent families. Over the years Sam was able to secure substantial financing from Moody's American National Insurance Company (ANICO) and many other institutions. Maceo came to be an extremely powerful figure in both organised crime and city, county and state politics, with the support and blessing of prominent figures throughout the United States. Galveston's open era. Maceo's power reached its zenith during Galveston's open era during which he became a very powerful political figure and oil businessman, owning the Gulf Oil Properties. His approach in running of his  empire has given him the nickname "the Velvet Hammer". During this time period, the criminal aspect of his empire was said to include dozens of casinos, bookmaking parlors and speakeasies throughout the city and Galveston County, particularly Kemah and Dickinson. Additionally, during this time period, Maceo came to dominate corrupt politics, bootlegging and narcotics trafficking as far north as Dallas.<ref name="Newtown, 40-41">