Conrad Hilton Sr. (1887–1979) was the American hotel magnate who founded Hilton Hotels, transforming the hospitality industry into a global enterprise. Before he became a millionaire, 23-year-old Conrad Hilton served as the Postmaster of his hometown of San Antonio, New Mexico. He held this position between 1910 and 1911. Conrad Hilton Sr. is remembered not only as a pioneer of the hospitality industry but also as a philanthropist and visionary businessman whose name remains synonymous with luxury hotels worldwide.

Conrad Hilton Sr. has never appeared on a postage stamp.

🌍 Early Life

• Born: December 25, 1887, in San Antonio, New Mexico Territory.
• He was the son of Augustus and Mary Hilton, who ran a general store and small inn
• Hilton attended military schools in New Mexico and briefly studied mining before entering business.

🏛 Political & Military Service

• Served in the New Mexico House of Representatives (1912–1916).
• Later joined the U.S. Army during World War I, which broadened his perspective before entering hospitality.

🏨 Hotel Empire

• After the war, Hilton purchased the Mobley Hotel in Cisco, Texas (1919).
• He expanded rapidly across Texas, eventually founding Hilton Hotels Corporation, which became one of the largest hotel chains in the world.
• His vision emphasized quality service, standardized operations, and international expansion, setting the model for modern hotel chains.

💰 Wealth & Legacy

• By the time of his death in 1979, Hilton’s empire made him one of the wealthiest men in America, with a net worth estimated at $1 billion.
• He was deeply religious and philanthropic, establishing the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation in 1944, which continues to support humanitarian causes worldwide.

👨 Family

• Married three times:
  • Mary Adelaide Barron (1925–1934)
  • Zsa Zsa Gabor (1942–1947)
  • Mary Frances Kelly (1976–1979)
• Children included Conrad Jr., Barron, Eric, and Francesca. He is the great-grandfather of socialite Paris Hilton.

⚰ Death

• Died: January 3, 1979, in Santa Monica, California, at age 91.
• Buried at Calvary Hill Cemetery, Dallas, Texas.