From 1912 to 1916, Hilton was a Republican representative in the first New Mexico Legislature, but became disillusioned with the "inside deals" of politics.

After completing Officer Training School, he became a second lieutenant, and served in Paris in the Quartermaster Corps.

[4] The most enduring influences to shape Hilton's philanthropic philosophy, beyond that of his parents, were the Catholic Church and his sisters.

[4] As a young boy, Hilton developed entrepreneurial skills working at his father's general store in Socorro County, New Mexico, which was partially converted into a 10-room hotel.

[5][6] This was followed by varied experiences, including a stint as a representative in New Mexico's first State Legislature, and a career decision to become a banker.

Nevertheless, he was retained as manager of a combined chain, and eventually regained control of his remaining eight hotels.

Over the next decade, he expanded west to California and east to Chicago and New York, crowning his expansions with such acquisitions as the Stevens Hotel in Chicago (then the world's largest hotel; it was renamed the Conrad Hilton), and the fabled Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.

[10] In 1950, Hilton bought Casa Encantada at 10644 Bellagio Road in Bel Air, Los Angeles, and occupied the house until he died in 1979.

[11] In 1957, Hilton was initiated as a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity at New Mexico State University.

[citation needed] In 1969, James C. Taylor presented plans to build a hospitality college on the campus of the University of Houston to Barron Hilton.

His son, Barron Hilton, who spent much of his career helping build the Hilton Hotels Corporation, contested the will—despite having left the company as acting president, chief executive officer, and chairman of the board of directors.

That gift led to the construction of the South Wing, which opened in 1989, and added 94,000 square feet (8,700 m2) of education and meeting space to Hilton College.