Tex Rickard

George Lewis "Tex" Rickard (January 2, 1870 – January 6, 1929) was an American businessman and boxing promoter who founded the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL), and built the third incarnation of Madison Square Garden in New York City. During the 1920s, he was the leading promoter of the day, and he has been compared to P. T. Barnum and Don King. Sports journalist Frank Deford wrote that Rickard "first recognized the potential of the star system." Rickard also operated saloons, hotels, and casinos, all named Northern and located in Alaska, Nevada, and Canada.