WILLIAM C. McGAW Former Founder and Publisher of The El Paso Journal Newspaper

William C. McGaw passed away on Friday, September 10, 2004, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Born on May 14, 1914, in Kokomo, Indiana, Bill lived the life most men only dream of. He was a newspaperman, publisher, boxing and show business promoter, restaurateur, historian, politician, racehorse owner, actor, all-around character and my mentor. Known to his friends and enemies' as Wild Bill McGaw he soon proved that title with his colorful and interesting tells. Wild Bill was one hell of a storyteller albeit in person setting at the local hung out at the bar or putting to paper he could spin a tail.
Bill began his career shortly after graduation from high school when he was hired as the editor of the Noblesville, Indiana newspaper. From there he went on to work as a reporter on such newspapers as the Tampa Times and the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He was also a sports writer for The Philadelphia Record. In Philadelphia, he discovered an up-and-coming young boxer whom he managed and proclaimed "the next middleweight champion of the world." Sugar Ray Robinson was the young fighter who went on to become middleweight champion.
During the late 1930's he worked for a short time as the announcer for Joie Chitwood's Auto Daredevils, an automobile stunt show, replacing Jackie Gleason whose career was just beginning to blossom.
Bill served as the medical officer on a U.S. Merchant Marine vessel in World War II. After the war, he married Dorothy Oliver, a nurse, and returned to work on the Philadelphia Record. When the paper folded in 1948, Bill moved his family to California and took over ownership of the Tournament of Thrills, an automobile stunt show sponsored by the Ford Motor Company. Bill and the Tournament of Thrills appeared in the 1950 movie, "To Please A Lady," directed by Clarence Brown and starring Clark Gable, Barbara Stanwyck and Adolph Menjou. After making the movie, Bill traveled the country annually with the Tournament of Thrills until 1959.
In 1959, Bill moved to Columbus, NM and began his extensive study of the history of the Southwest and mountain men. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Pancho Villa State Park in Columbus, and from 1961 until 1968 published The Southwesterner newspaper. He also produced and appeared in a TV show, "The Southwesterner," on two local TV stations, KTSM and KROD in El Paso, Texas. In 1961 the show "drew more fan mail than any show, local or network, ever to be presented on (KTSM)".
After moving to Columbus, Bill began research on James Kirker, a mountain man and one of the first settlers of Silver City, NM. He eventually published a biography of Kirker, "Savage Scene, The Life and Times of James Kirker." His book, "Southwest Saga, the Way it Really Was," a collection of stories that originally appeared in The Southwesterner, was published in 1988.
In the late 1960's, Bill and his family moved to El Paso and he started The New Orleans Cafe, indulging his life-long passion for Cajun and French cuisine. In the early 1970's Bill again turned to show business, this time promoting The Royal Lipizzaner Stallions of Austria.
In 1975 he founded The El Paso Journal, a feisty weekly newspaper whose motto was, "All the news that fits, we print." After selling his interest in the Journal to his investigative reporter Michael Webster. They both thereafter partnered up and worked with the famous Washington Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Jack Anderson and the world renowned private investigator Jay J. Armes. Later Bill had his old friend and partner Webster represent his interests at the negotiations with Anderson and JJ. As a result Bill actually became part owner and publisher of the national magazine, The Investigator.
The El Paso Herald-Post named Bill "One of El Paso's 10 Most Interesting Characters" in 1984.
Bill and Dorothy were members of Vista Ysleta United Methodist Church prior to moving to Colorado Springs.
In his last years, Bill battled Alzheimer's and the effect of aging, but his spirit remained strong and cheerful. His wife, Dorothy, and sister, Betty, preceded him in death. He is survived by his sister, Ruth Ann Browne, of Indianapolis, IN; daughter, Pat Moffat, of Colorado Springs; his son, Mike McGaw; grandson, Michael; granddaughter, Jane. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, September 13th at Corpus Christi Parish in Colorado Springs, CO. donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association in lieu of flowers.