Who started the Jack Tar Hotels?

Answer 1

IN THE EARLY 90'S I MET A SHOPPING CENTER DEVELOPER IN SOUTHERN California WHO DEVELOPED A STRIP CENTER IN THE VICTOR VALLEY WHO CLAIMED TO BE JACK TAR JR.

I ALSO AM CURIOUS TO LEARN OF THE HOTEL OPERATOR ?

The Jack Tar hotel chain began as a humble tourist court built in 1940 in Galveston, TX. The court was jointly developed and owned by W. L. Moody, Jr. (owner of National Affiliated Hotels) and his son W. L. Moody, III. The manager was Ed C. Leach who was only 27 at the time. Moody, III and Moody, Jr. had a parting of the ways and Moody, III bought out Affiliated's stake in the court. W. L. Moody, III built another Jack Tar Court in Hot Springs, Arkansas in an effort to establish a regional chain and perhaps compete with his father.

Charles A. Sammons of Dallas, TX purchased the tourist court in Galveston in 1952 and promptly named Leach as the president of Jack Tar Hotels. Sammons' idea was to have a nationwide chain headed by Leach. Sammons bought additional land adjacent to the tourist court in Galveston and embarked on a 1,000,000 expansion that was to serve as the crown-jewel of the chain. At its zenith, Jack tar Hotels had 14 properties that were either owned or lease-managed.