Hughesworld

Book excerpt: Hughesworld is an authentic account written by a press spokesman for Howard Hughes that traces the highlights of his varied life in motion pictures and aviation but concentrates on the management struggle that followed his death in 1976. Hughes died intestate, or without a valid will, opening up a circus of phony will documents. In addition hundreds of far-distant relatives staked claims. A first cousin, Texas lawyer William Lummis, assumed control after a long and bitter struggle with executives and lawyers who had previously managed Hughes businesses. Hughes is shown as a brilliant aviation pioneer and aircraft designer, as well as a motion picture producer and an able if unorthodox industrialist. At one time he owed a major airline, TWA, a leading oil well drilling bit company, Hughes Tool, and a missile and electonics concern, Hughes Aircraft. In the final phase of his business life, he owned six Las Vegas hotel-casinos. He ended as a tragic character, living secluded in pain from injuries sustained in plane crashes, rendered helpless by drugs.