McCarthy founded the Shamrock Hotel in Houston, which garnered him national fame and inspired the fictional character Jett Rink in Edna Ferber's 1952 novel Giant[1] which, in 1956, became a film, which starred James Dean in the role.
[2] During an oil drilling boom near Houston, Texas, the family moved to the city where his father gained employment.
[2] "Diamond Glenn" drew much attention from the national media due to his charismatic personality and his rags-to-riches story.
Both loved and scorned by the media, his image formed the cultural mythos of the Texas oil millionaire: a charming, lucky, unabashed businessman.
[5] Dozens of Hollywood celebrities, many of whom were flown into Houston Municipal Airport on a Boeing 307 Stratoliner airplane which he had acquired from Howard Hughes.
McCarthy avoided publicity during his later career and lived with his wife in the La Porte area near Galveston, Texas.