George Wingfield
George Wingfield | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | December 25, 1959 (aged 83) Reno, Nevada, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, gambler, financier, investor, cattleman |
| Years active | 1909–1932 |
| Known for | Prominent figure in Nevada's economic and political landscape; wealthiest individual in Nevada by early 1900s; involvement in mining, banking, ranching, hospitality, and politics |
George Wingfield (August 16, 1876 – December 25, 1959) was a prominent figure in Nevada’s economic and political landscape from 1909 to 1932, known for his roles as a cattleman, gambler, financier, and investor. After relocating to Winnemucca in 1899, he was guided by future senator George S. Nixon and partnered with gambler John Hennessy during the Tonopah mining surge post-1901. Within less than five years, Wingfield advanced from dealing faro cards to becoming the wealthiest individual in Nevada.
Early and family life
George Wingfield was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas to parents Thomas Yates Wingfield and Martha Matilda Spradling. His family frequently relocated throughout the Western United States before establishing roots in Oregon when he was five years old. In his youth, he worked as a buckaroo on a ranch near Burns, Oregon. Following his initial financial success in 1906, his first wife May sought an annulment. He subsequently wed Maud Azil Murdoch Hamlin from San Francisco; the couple had one son, George Wingfield Jr. (1914–1987). Later in life, Wingfield married Roxy Thoma.
Career
By the age of twenty, Wingfield was actively engaged in cattle driving, transporting herds from Oregon and California to Winnemucca, Nevada—a vital railroad junction and commercial center. It was there that he encountered banker and future U.S. Senator George S. Nixon, who became an important mentor. In 1899, Wingfield transitioned from cattle ranching to operating a saloon in Golconda, which he sold by 1901.
Following this, he moved to Tonopah amid its mining boom triggered by a silver discovery in 1900. Starting as a gambler and card dealer, by 1902 Wingfield and John Hennessey had assumed control of the Tonopah Club, earning $200,000 in profits. That October marked the formal establishment of a partnership between Wingfield and Nixon focused on mining and real estate ventures. Their acquisitions included the Boston-Tonopah Mining Company and the Nye County Bank. After a gold discovery near Goldfield in 1903, Wingfield relocated there in 1904, purchasing a saloon before shifting his attention to mines and real estate under Nixon’s guidance. That same year, Nixon was elected to the U.S. Senate.
By 1906, Wingfield had accumulated substantial wealth through ownership stakes in mines at Tonopah and Goldfield. Their enterprise, Goldfield Consolidated Mining Company, went public with $50 million capital stock; Wingfield’s personal fortune reached approximately $30 million. However, labor disputes in 1907 caused mine shutdowns and widespread layoffs, leading to state government involvement.
In 1908, Wingfield moved his base to Reno where he diversified into politics, banking, ranching, and hospitality industries. His business alliance with Nixon dissolved in 1909; Wingfield retained mining interests while Nixon continued managing banking operations. He invested in the Coalinga Oil Field and acquired prominent Reno hotels such as the Golden and Riverside. His mining ventures expanded internationally while he resumed cattle ranching near Fallon.
Following Nixon’s death in 1912, Wingfield declined an offer to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat. He maintained connections across party lines and endured challenges such as the devastating Goldfield fire of 1923. Throughout the 1920s, he played a significant role in shaping Nevada’s lenient divorce statutes and legalizing gambling—both pivotal factors that enhanced tourism and bolstered his hotel enterprises alongside the state’s economy. In 1928, he secured election to the University of Nevada Board of Regents.
The Great Depression severely diminished Wingfield’s fortune. In 1931, amid allegations relating to missing state funds—which he later personally reimbursed—he declared bankruptcy. By 1935, he began rebuilding his financial standing through investments including the Getchell Mine near Winnemucca. He retired around 1955 after divesting from his Reno security firm and selling the Riverside Hotel.
Death and legacy
George Wingfield passed away in Reno on December 25, 1959. His wife and son were subsequently laid to rest beside him in the same location. In 1992, he received posthumous recognition through induction into the National Mining Hall of Fame located in Leadville, Colorado.
Wingfield Park, situated along the banks of the Truckee River in Reno, was established on property that Wingfield had donated. Starting in 1995, a residential development spanning 1,660 acres and comprising 400 homes was constructed on the grounds of his former Spanish Springs Ranch. The Red Hawk at Wingfield Springs neighborhood, finished in 2005 and named by developer Harvey Whittemore in honor of Wingfield, stands as a testament to his enduring influence on local real estate growth.