Unit 53 Howard Hughes 1905-1976

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Biography of a Billionaire

24th December 1905: Howard Hughes was born in Houston, Texas.
1912: He started school.

1924: His father died. He left school. He inherited $750,000. He became director of his father’s oil-drilling company.
1925: He married Ella Rice.

1927: He went to Hollywood.
1928: He produced a film. He divorced Ella Rice.

1930: He directed the film Hell’s Angels.
1933: He worked as an airline pilot. (He changed his name).

1935: He built a plane. He broke the world air-speed record. (He flew at 352m.p.h).
1937: President Roosevelt gave him a special aviation award.

1938: He flew round the world in 91 hours (a new world record).
1942: He designed and manufactured war planes.

1943: He designed a new bra for film-star Jane Russell.

1947: He started T.W.A (Trans World Airlines). He crashed a new war-plane. He nearly died. In hospital, he designed a new bed. He flew a new 700-seat passenger plane.
1948: He bought RKO Film Studio.
1954: He sold RKO.
1957: He sold TWA for $546,000,000. He married Jean Peters.
1958: He retired from public life.

1966: He went to Las Vegas. He bought a lot of casinos, clubs and hotels. (He didn’t smoke, drink or gamble).
1971: He devorced Jean Peters.

1972: He gave $100,000 to President Nixon for the 1972 Election.
5th April 1976: Hughes died in Acapulco. He left $2,000,000,000.

Grammar

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