Clarence Scharbauer (August 17, 1879 – October 2, 1942) was an American rancher, oilman, banker and hotelier. He was the owner of large ranches in

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

and

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...

. By the time of his death, Scharbauer was "one of

West Texas West Texas is a loosely defined region in the U.S. state of Texas, generally encompassing the arid and semiarid lands west of a line drawn between the cities of Wichita Falls, Abilene, and Del Rio. No consensus exists on the boundary betwee ...

' most prominent and influential citizens."

Early life

Clarence Scharbauer was born on August 18, 1879 in

Albany County, New York Albany County ( ) is a county in the state of New York, United States. Its northern border is formed by the Mohawk River, at its confluence with the Hudson River, which is to the east. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 3 ...

. He grew up in

Midland, Texas Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States. A small part of Midland is in Martin County. At the 2020 census, Midland's population was 132,524. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas metropolitan ...

. His paternal uncle, John Scharbauer, was a Texas cattleman who owned ranches in

Lea County, New Mexico Lea County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 census, its population was 64,727. Its county seat is Lovington. It is both west and north of the Texas state line. Lea County comprises the Hobbs, NM micropoli ...

. His paternal great-grandfather was an immigrant from

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

. Scharbauer attended a business school in

Waco, Texas Waco ( ) is the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, United States. It is situated along the Brazos River and I-35, halfway between Dallas and Austin. The city had a 2020 population of 138,486, making it the 22nd-most populous city in the ...

, followed by

Baylor University Baylor University is a private Baptist Christian research university in Waco, Texas. Baylor was chartered in 1845 by the last Congress of the Republic of Texas. Baylor is the oldest continuously operating university in Texas and one of the fir ...

Career

Scharbauer managed and eventually inherited the family ranches. His ranches "spread into five West Texas and two New Mexico counties." One ranch was in Pecos County, Texas. In 1935, oil was discovered on his ranches. When his uncle's ranches in Lea County, New Mexico were purchased by Millard Eidson of

Lovington, New Mexico Lovington is a city in, and the county seat of, Lea County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 11,009 at the 2010 census, up from 9,471 in 2000. Geography Lovington is located slightly north of the center of Lea County at (32.94645 ...

in 1942, Scharbauer succeeded his uncle as the president of the Scharbauer Cattle Company. Scharbauer joined the Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Midland in 1923. He served as its vice president from 1925 to 1927, and as its president from 1927 until his death. Scharbauer built the Scharbauer Hotel, a 250-room hotel in

in 1928. It opened in 1928, and it became the center of business and social life in Midland. Additionally, he served as the president of the Midland Fair, which organized

rodeo Rodeo () is a competitive equestrian sport that arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain and Mexico, expanding throughout the Americas and to other nations. It was originally based on the skills required of the working va ...

s in Midland. He was also the owner of a local radio station, KRLH. In the wake of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, Scharbauer donated 450 acres to expand the Midland International Air and Space Port.

Personal life

Scharbauer married Ruth Cowden. They had two sons, including Clarence Scharbauer, Jr., a horsebreeder. They resided in a house at 602 South Main Street, until they moved into a penthouse in the Scharbauer Hotel in Midland, Texas.

Death and legacy

Scharbauer died of

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

on October 2, 1942. His funeral, which took place at the First Baptist Church in Midland on October 4, was held by Dr. William R. White, the President of Hardin–Simmons University. He was buried at the Fairview Cemetery in Midland, Texas. By the time of his death, Scharbauer was "one of West Texas' most prominent and influential citizens." His will bequeathed US$25,000 to build the new First Baptist Church in Midland, Texas. The rest of his estate went to his widow, his son, and a cousin, Arnold Scharbauer. His son, Clarence Scharbauer, Jr., was a philanthropist and inductee into the

American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame and Museum was created by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), based in Amarillo, Texas. Ground breaking construction of the Hall of Fame Museum began in 1989. The distinction is earned by people and ...

and the Horse Racing Hall of Fame. The Scharbauer Hotel in Midland, Texas was demolished in 1973.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scharbauer, Clarence 1879 births 1942 deaths American people of German descent People from Midland, Texas Baylor University alumni Ranchers from Texas American bankers Southern Baptists Deaths from cancer in Texas