Local Author Shares Memories of Howard Hughes

OGDEN, Utah — The Weber Historical Society will host local author and Howard Hughes expert Jim Whetton on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. Whetton will speak in the Weber State University Lindquist Alumni Center Garden Room.
 
Whetton, 93, was the general manager of the Desert Inn in Las Vegas for most of the time Hughes was the owner. He was also one of Hughes’ administrative assistants.
 
Whetton co-authored the book We Knew Howard Hughes, a collection of memoirs about the life of the famous business tycoon, aviator and filmmaker. During his lifetime, Hughes was one of the wealthiest people in the world.
 
“He was one of the greatest aviators and patriots in the history of the country,” Whetton said. “He led a very quiet personal life. There are many things to be told about the man, and nothing had been printed before by people who were close to him.”
 
The three authors of the book, Whetton, James Leo Wadsworth and Wilbur Thain, were associated with Hughes most of his life.
 
Hughes gained fame in Hollywood in the late 1920s, producing big-budget films such as Hell’s Angels and the original Scarface. He was also an airplane aficionado. His H-1 Racer set the landplane speed record of 352 mph in 1935. The Academy Award winning movie The Aviator is based on his life.
 
Later in life, Hughes was debilitated with obsessive-compulsive disorder and fell out of the public eye. At that time, he made numerous purchases, including the Desert Inn.
 
“He was a very considerate and generous man,” Whetton said. “It was a real privilege to work for him. We need to expose the world to this great person as much as we can.”
 
Whetton is a graduate of Ogden High School and Weber Junior College. He is a World War II and Korean War Navy veteran.
 
The event, which is free and open to the public, is part of the Weber Historical Society Fall 2014 Lecture Series. It is presented by the WSU Alumni Association, the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, the Department of History, Stewart Library, the Weber Historical Society, William Critchlow III, and Jack and Betty Lampros.
 
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
 
Author:
Marcus Jensen, Office of Marketing & Communications
801-626-7295 • marcusjensen@weber.edu
Contact:
Eric Swedin, history professor
801-395-3553 • eswedin@weber.edu