Comments on: Remembering the Howard Hughes “Mormon Will”

By: Paul B. Winn

Paul B. Winn — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 02:13:00 +0000

Ray – I began in 1957 as one of Hughes’ personal secretaries. I traveled with him and spent a great deal of time with him. While he was in Las Vegas from 1966-1970 I worked the midnight shift in the Operations Office so I could go to law school. After I passed the California Bar exam I moved up in the company, becoming Executive Assistant to Bill Gay, then moving to Las Vegas, where I worked directly for Will Lummis. I was Director of Corporate Records, Corporate Secretary, and Secretary to the Board of Directos. I was directly involved in everything that was going on. Some folks just insist in dealing with the stupid stuff and ignore the facts. The “Mormon” myth will never die!!
Paul B. Winn

By: Ray Parrish

Ray Parrish — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 01:07:00 +0000

Thanks Paul, nice to see a bit of reality “ooze” into these post online.

By: Paul B. Winn

Paul B. Winn — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 07:52:00 +0000

Here are the facts: The so-called “Will” referred to above left 1/16 to Dummar and 1/16 to the Hughes’s aides at the time of his death . There were six of them so they each would have inherited approximately $25 million. Now, at the trial, all of them testified that Hughes had NOT left the Desert Inn. However, if they had testified that Hughes had left the Desert Inn they would each have received $25 million. So, if you believe the article above, you believe these six people lied in order NOT to receive $25 million! Explain how that makes any sense.
I was Corporate Secretary of The Howard Hughes Corporation and Director of Corporate Records and was very much involved in the trial. Thre is absolutely no truth to the Melvin Dummar story. Incidentally, not all the aides to Hughes were Mormons. Paul B. Winn

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 01:07:00 +0000

I wouldn’t put anything past a Mormon.

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:01:42 +0000

What a strange man and a strange story. I’d be interested to find out the rationale behind the Mormon Church’s decision to have the will probated. Did they feel that they were obligated to file it once they had possession of it, or were they really interested in the money? I think I agree with MrQandA that the LDS Church was better off without the cash.

By: any

any — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:11:40 +0000

The Church ended up with a great piece of property in the Nevada desert, known as “Warm Springs” it is near Mesquite. It is now a stake family camp. It has a phenomenal warm swimming spring and some great green spaces. It is truly an oasis, in the true sense of the word. Word is that it had been a hideaway for Howard (before air conditioning, a place to get away from the city was crucial) and he gave it to the Church. Anyone heard of this? I have been there and it is a phenomenal place, so I know it exists, I am just wondering about the history.

By: MrQandA

MrQandA — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:36:52 +0000

Looking at the alleged involvement Howard Hughes had in politically motivated organised crimes. The LDS church is very fortunate not to receive the the money.

Now just the little issue of the Marriott Pornography Empire.

By: MH

MH — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:00:04 +0000

Senator Bennett just released a book comparing forgeries for Howard Hughes to the Book of Mormon. I’ve wondered why Bennett believes he’s an expert on forgery.

By: Jeff Breinholt

Jeff Breinholt — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:53:12 +0000

Actually, I think Bennett had a public relations company named Mullins Co. that competed for Hughes’ business but didn’t land it. That was part of the reason for the Watergate break-in: Bennett was hoping to get dirt of his rival, Larry O’Brien, who got the contract. Someday, I’ll write the blog post on the Mormon connection to Watergate.

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:21:44 +0000

I am closely acquainted with one of Dummar’s attorneys in the 1976 case. There was plenty of evidence to corroborate Dummar’s claim. The story of the jury foreman is interesting, to say the least.

We’ll probably never know. I believe that the present Senator Bennett was one of Hughes’ aides.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:43:34 +0000

I was working for a lawyer — my bishop — in Las Vegas, just around the corner from the Clark County courthouse, when this will was filed, with lightbulbs flashing and cameras whirring. It was quite the excitement there for a while. I still don’t know what to think about Dummar’s story.

By: Frecklefoot

Frecklefoot — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:28:04 +0000

So the heirs of Hughes estate wanted $2.5 billion instead of a measly @2.2 billion? Kind of greedy, weren’t they?