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William Barron Hilton I
William Barron Hilton, 2007 on Venice Island
Born	October 23, 1927 (1927-10-23) (age 82) Dallas, Texas, USA
Net worth	▲US$2.5 billion (2010)[1]
Spouse(s)	Marilyn June Hawley (m. 1947-2004)
Children	William Barron Hilton, Jr (b. 1948) Hawley Anne Hilton (b. 1949) Stephen Michael Hilton (b. 1950) David Alan Hilton (b. 1952) Sharon Constance Hilton (b. 1953) Richard Howard Hilton (b. 1955) Daniel Kevin Hilton (b. 1962) Ronald Jeffrey Hilton (b. 1963)
Parents	Conrad Hilton (1887-1979) Mary Adelaide Barron

William Barron Hilton I (born October 23, 1927) is an American socialite, hotel heir, former co-chairman of the Hilton Hotels chain, and the original owner of the San Diego Chargers. He is one of the sons of Conrad Hilton (founder of Hilton Hotels).

Early Life

Hilton was born in Dallas, Texas. His father was Conrad Nicholson Hilton, founder of Hilton Hotels, and his mother was Mary Adelaide Barron. Hilton grew up with three siblings: Conrad Nicholson Hilton, Jr., Eric Michael Hilton, and Constance Francesca Hilton. He served in the Navy during World War II, as a photographer. Hilton became fascinated by aviation, and attended University of Southern California Aeronautical School at age nineteen, where he earned his twin-engine rating.^[2]

Career

In 1954, Hilton was elected vice-president of Hilton Hotels, of which his father was president. The announcement was made on November 16, 1954, by Robert P. Williford, Executive Vice President. Barron also became president of the Carte Blanche credit card firm, was owner of a orange juice company, head of a business leasing jets and an investor in a Texas oil company.

In 1966 Hilton assumed the presidency of the Hilton Hotel chain.

Personal life

Hilton's father died in 1979. He left $500,000 USD each to two of his surviving siblings and $10,000 USD to each of his nieces and nephews and his daughter Francesca. The bulk of his estate was left to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, which he established in 1944. Barron Hilton contested the will since he spent his life working to build the hotel corporation, and won. Hilton would receive 4 million shares, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation would receive 3.5 million shares, and the remaining 6 million shares would be placed in the W. Barron Hilton Charitable Remainder Unitrust. Upon Barron Hilton's death, Unitrust assets will be transferred to the Hilton Foundation. Barron is on the board of directors of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

In 1947, Hilton married Marilyn June Hawley. They had eight children: William Barron Hilton, Jr., Hawley Anne Hilton, Stephen Michael Hilton, David Alan Hilton, Sharon Constance Hilton, Richard Howard Hilton, Daniel Kevin Hilton, and Ronald Jeffrey Hilton. They remained married until her death, in 2004.

In 1986, Hilton was awarded an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Houston.^[3]

On December 25, 2007, Hilton announced that he will be leaving about 97% of his fortune to a charitable trust that will eventually be merged with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.^[4] Jerry Oppenheimer, who profiled the Hilton family in House of Hilton (2006), has said Barron Hilton is embarrassed by his granddaughter Paris' behavior and believes it has sullied the family name.^[4] There was no response from her.

Barron Hilton's principal residence in Holmby Hills was originally designed in the 1930s for Jay Paley,^[5] by architect Paul Williams. It was used as the 'Colby mansion' in exterior scenes for "The Colbys" television series. He also owns the Flying-M Ranch in Lyon County, Nevada, where on Labor Day, 2007 adventurer Steve Fossett took off from and never returned. Hilton also has a house on Venice Island in the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta near Stockton in Northern California. Every year he puts on a large fireworks display, attracting thousands of boaters to watch it.

See also

• List of American Football League players

References

External links