Tex Rickard

<p> Whether opening saloons raising cattle or promoting sporting events George Lewis Tex Rickard (1870-1929) possessed a drive to be the best. After an early career as a cowboy and Texas sheriff Rickard pioneered the largest ranch in South America built a series of profitable saloons in the Klondike and Nevada gold rushes and turned boxing into a million-dollar sport. As the Father of Madison Square Garden he promoted over 200 fights including some of the most notable of the 20th century: the Longest Fight the Great White Hope fight and the famous Long Count fight. Along the way he rubbed shoulders with some of history's most renowned figures including Teddy Roosevelt Wyatt Earp Bat Masterson John Ringling Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney. This detailed biography chronicles Rickard's colorful life and his critical role in the evolution of boxing from a minor sport to a modern spectacle.</p>