Thomas H. Friedkin
Encyclopedia
Thomas Hoyt Friedkin is a businessman whose net worth, according to the Forbes 400 in 2008, was estimated at $2 billion.
He has been described as audacious by Forbes
magazine.
, who had served in Britain's Royal Air Force
as a combat pilot and pilot trainer during World War II. After the war, Kenneth Friedkin opened Friedkin Aeronautics, a flight school in San Diego, California
, before founding Pacific Southwest Airlines
in 1949. Tom Friedkin learned to fly at an early age and was a PSA pilot in 1962 when his father died abruptly of a cerebral hemorrhage at 47. A year later, his mother also died.
The following year, PSA went public and his mother's death made Tom the largest shareholder of the airline. He had a seat on the Board of Directors, but continued working as a full-time pilot for the carrier. At age 28, Friedkin married, ultimately producing four children with wife Susan. The airline continued operating until 1986, when US Airways
purchased the carrier for $400 million. Friedkin received just $3.4 million.
and Bobby Allison
were moderately successful.
Friedkin was friends with Carroll Shelby
, the Texan who became famous for designing the Shelby Mustang
for Ford
. Shelby would probably be a billionaire today if he had accepted Toyota's 1968 offer to become an automobile distributor. According to Shelby,
Shelby told his racing buddy, Tom Friedkin, about Toyota's intentions to sell distributor licenses. Friedkin opened Gulf States Toyota Distributors
(GST). GST also completed construction of a processing center on a 33 acres (133,546.4 m²) site at the Port of Houston
.
with Bernie Little
. The Hydroplane boat won American Power Boat Association
Gold Cup Races in 1969, 1970, and 1973.
He also owned a North American F-86F Sabre
, a Chinese Air Force MiG-15
, a Republic P-47D Thunderbolt
and the General Motors version of a Grumman F4F Wildcat
, among other planes. Many have been used in motion picture and television production.
When asked to allow his F4U Corsair
to be used in the television show Baa Baa Black Sheep
, Friedkin insisted on piloting it himself; he has since flown in several films. Friedkin is a member of the Screen Actors Guild
and the Motion Picture Pilots Association.
in 1972, which he sold in 1997. In 1989, he chose to hunt in Tanzania
and after purchasing a preserve there, began Tanzania Game Tracker Safaris. The new company charges $2,000 a day, but returns some profits through the Friedkin Conservation Fund, a non-governmental organization established in 1994 that operates in Tanzania. The group's focus is conservation issues, and they assist the Tanzanian government with the management (including anti-poaching activities) of its Protected Areas, help uplift rural communities with education, income generation & clean water/health projects, and conduct wildlife monitoring & research. The organization was founded by Tom and Dan Friedkin and is supported by private donations and profits from Friedkin's Tanzania Game Tracker Safaris.
cars wholesale and sells them—as well as parts and service—to about 150 dealerships in his franchise states of Arkansas
, Louisiana
, Mississippi
, Oklahoma
and Texas
. GST's sales account for nearly 13% of Toyota sales in the United States. GST is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Friedkin Companies and ranked 53rd on the Forbes
2008 list of America's Largest Private Companies with revenues estimated at $5.7 billion.
GST's corporate headquarters is in west Houston with a 400000 square feet (37,161.2 m²) campus consisting of a five story and a ten story building, connected by a concourse and an eight floor parking garage. The complex includes a 40000 square feet (3,716.1 m²) training center, in addition to Gulf States Marketing and Gulf States Financial Services offices.
Gulf States Toyota Distributors is one of only two private Toyota distributors in the United States. The other is Southeast Toyota Distributors, founded by the late billionaire Jim Moran.
By 2001, Tom Friedkin, then 66, had turned over responsibility for running the holding firm and its 3,000 employees to son Dan, but remained Chairman of the Board and was content to dispense advice. "I'm kind of a bum these days," he told Forbes. "I am not a greedy person, and I don't have to make the last dollar there ever was."
victims who worked for Toyota and other dealerships.
The Friedkin Foundation takes care of his philanthropic activities.
He has been described as audacious by Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine.
Airplanes
Friedkin learned about airplanes from father, Kenneth FriedkinKenny Friedkin
Kenneth Giles Friedkin was born in New York City during World War I. He had a wife and one child . He and his parents moved to Kansas, and later San Diego, California. Friedkin got interested in aviation after he saw an air show in San Diego at the age of 8. Friedkin obtained his pilot license at...
, who had served in Britain's Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
as a combat pilot and pilot trainer during World War II. After the war, Kenneth Friedkin opened Friedkin Aeronautics, a flight school in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, before founding Pacific Southwest Airlines
Pacific Southwest Airlines
Pacific Southwest Airlines was a United States airline headquartered in San Diego, California, that operated from 1949 to 1988. It was one of the first large discount airlines in the United States and is considered a precursor to Southwest Airlines...
in 1949. Tom Friedkin learned to fly at an early age and was a PSA pilot in 1962 when his father died abruptly of a cerebral hemorrhage at 47. A year later, his mother also died.
The following year, PSA went public and his mother's death made Tom the largest shareholder of the airline. He had a seat on the Board of Directors, but continued working as a full-time pilot for the carrier. At age 28, Friedkin married, ultimately producing four children with wife Susan. The airline continued operating until 1986, when US Airways
US Airways
US Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
purchased the carrier for $400 million. Friedkin received just $3.4 million.
Automobiles
During the 1960s, one of Friedkin's hobbies was racing cars. He was a Grand National Owner from 1965–1969 and two of his drivers, Jim PaschalJim Paschal
James Roy "Jim" Paschal, Jr. was a NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup driver. He won twenty-five races and twelve poles over his career. Elected to the "Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame" in 1977, he won the World 600 in 1964 and the 1967 Charlotte Motor Speedway...
and Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
were moderately successful.
Friedkin was friends with Carroll Shelby
Carroll Shelby
Carroll Hall Shelby is an American retired automotive designer and racing driver. He is most well known for making Mustangs for Ford Motor Company known as Mustang Cobras which he has done since 1965...
, the Texan who became famous for designing the Shelby Mustang
Shelby Mustang
The Shelby Mustang is a high performance variant of the Ford Mustang which was built by Shelby American from 1965 through 1970. Following the introduction of the fifth generation Ford Mustang, the Shelby nameplate was revived in 2007 for new high performance versions of the Mustang.- 1965–1966 :The...
for Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
. Shelby would probably be a billionaire today if he had accepted Toyota's 1968 offer to become an automobile distributor. According to Shelby,
"I turned it down because I went to Lee IacoccaLee IacoccaLido Anthony "Lee" Iacocca is an American businessman known for engineering the Mustang, the unsuccessful Ford Pinto, being fired from Ford Motor Company, and his revival of the Chrysler Corporation in the 1980s...
, and he told me not to take it because the domestic makers were going to push the Japanese back into the ocean. In the end I was just 'dumb' for listening to him at all."
Shelby told his racing buddy, Tom Friedkin, about Toyota's intentions to sell distributor licenses. Friedkin opened Gulf States Toyota Distributors
Gulf States Toyota Distributors
Gulf States Toyota Distributors is the world’s second largest franchised distributor of Toyota vehicles. The 150 dealers in the five states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas account for 13% of Toyota sales in the United States...
(GST). GST also completed construction of a processing center on a 33 acres (133,546.4 m²) site at the Port of Houston
Port of Houston
The Port of Houston is a port in Houston—the fourth-largest city in the United States. The Port is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities located a few hours' sailing time from the Gulf of Mexico...
.
Power sports
For several years, Friedkin co-owned the Miss BudweiserMiss Budweiser
The Miss Budweiser were 22 Hydroplanes sponsored by Budweiser beer. They were owned by Bernie Little and , his youngest son, Joe...
with Bernie Little
Bernie Little
Bernie Little was the most successful owner in Unlimited Hydroplane racing history. His Miss Budweiser team won 134 of the 354 hydroplane races they entered. They won the high points championship 22 years in 40 years of competition, and the Gold Cup 14 times...
. The Hydroplane boat won American Power Boat Association
American Power Boat Association
The American Power Boat Association is a New York non-profit, membership owned corporation that was created in 1903 by an act of the New York legislature as a racing association for powerboats. It is the United States sanctioning authority for the Union Internationale Motonautique , the world...
Gold Cup Races in 1969, 1970, and 1973.
He also owned a North American F-86F Sabre
F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
, a Chinese Air Force MiG-15
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 was a jet fighter developed for the USSR by Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich. The MiG-15 was one of the first successful swept-wing jet fighters, and it achieved fame in the skies over Korea, where early in the war, it outclassed all straight-winged enemy fighters in...
, a Republic P-47D Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
Republic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
and the General Motors version of a Grumman F4F Wildcat
F4F Wildcat
The Grumman F4F Wildcat was an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that began service with both the United States Navy and the British Royal Navy in 1940...
, among other planes. Many have been used in motion picture and television production.
When asked to allow his F4U Corsair
F4U Corsair
The Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-capable fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Demand for the aircraft soon overwhelmed Vought's manufacturing capability, resulting in production by Goodyear and Brewster: Goodyear-built Corsairs were designated FG and...
to be used in the television show Baa Baa Black Sheep
Baa Baa Black Sheep (TV series)
Baa Baa Black Sheep is a television series that aired on NBC from 1976 until 1978. Its premise was based on the experiences of United States Marine Corps aviator Pappy Boyington and his World War II "Black Sheep Squadron". The series was created and produced by Stephen J. Cannell...
, Friedkin insisted on piloting it himself; he has since flown in several films. Friedkin is a member of the Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
and the Motion Picture Pilots Association.
Movie/TV credits
- Miscellaneous Crew:
- Jaws: The RevengeJaws: The RevengeJaws: The Revenge, Also known as, 'Jaws 4: The Revenge', is a 1987 thriller film directed by Joseph Sargent. It is the third sequel to Steven Spielberg's Jaws and the final installment of the series....
(1987) (pilot) (as Thomas Friedkin) - Police Academy 4: Citizens on PatrolPolice Academy 4: Citizens on PatrolPolice Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol is the fourth comedy film in the Police Academy series. It was released in 1987.A group of Police Academy graduates are sent to train a group of newly recruited civilian officers. The original Police Academy cast reprise their roles in the film. Capt. Harris,...
(1987) (pilot) (as Tom Friedkin) - Uncommon ValorUncommon ValorUncommon Valor is a 1983 action/war film written by Joe Gayton and directed by Ted Kotcheff, about a Marine officer who puts together a team to try to rescue his son, who he believes is among those still held in Laos after the Vietnam War...
(1983) (helicopter pilot) - The Cat from Outer SpaceThe Cat from Outer SpaceThe Cat from Outer Space is a 1978 Disney film, starring Ronnie Schell, Ken Berry, Sandy Duncan, Harry Morgan, Roddy McDowall and McLean Stevenson.-Plot:...
(1978) (pilot) (as Tom Friedkin)
- Jaws: The Revenge
- Actor:
- The RookieThe Rookie (1990 film)The Rookie is a 1990 American action film directed by Clint Eastwood and produced by Howard G. Kazanjian, Steven Siebert and David Valdes. It was written from a screenplay conceived by Boaz Yakin and Scott Spiegel. The film stars Charlie Sheen, Clint Eastwood, Raúl Juliá, Sônia Braga, Lara Flynn...
(1990) (as Thomas Friedkin) .... Pilot - Pale RiderPale RiderPale Rider is a 1985 American western film produced and directed by Clint Eastwood, who also stars in the lead role. This movie has plot similarities to the classic Western Shane , including in its final scene, as well as previous Eastwood films featuring his Man with No Name character and his 1973...
(1985) (as Tom Friedkin) .... Miner Tom - Blue ThunderBlue ThunderBlue Thunder is a 1983 feature film that features a high-tech helicopter of the same name. The movie was directed by John Badham and stars Roy Scheider...
(1983) (as Tom Friedkin) .... Helicopter Pilot - The Gauntlet (1977) (as Tom Friedkin) .... Helicopter Pilot
- The Rookie
- Stunts:
- Mulholland FallsMulholland FallsMulholland Falls is a 1996 American neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Lee Tamahori and written by Pete Dexter. The drama features Andrew McCarthy, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Connelly, Chazz Palminteri, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Melanie Griffith, Treat Williams, and John Malkovich.Nolte plays the...
(1996) (stunt pilot) (as Thomas Friedkin) - HeartbeepsHeartbeepsHeartbeeps is an American romantic sci-fi comedy film about two robots who fall in love and decide to strike out on their own. It was directed by Allan Arkush, and starred Andy Kaufman and Bernadette Peters as the robots...
(1981) (stunts) (as Tom Friedkin)
- Mulholland Falls
- Thanks:
- Firefox (1982) (special thanks) (as Tom Friedkin)
Hunting & conservation
Friedkin also hunts big game in Africa, having started his own game-hunting company in BotswanaBotswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
in 1972, which he sold in 1997. In 1989, he chose to hunt in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
and after purchasing a preserve there, began Tanzania Game Tracker Safaris. The new company charges $2,000 a day, but returns some profits through the Friedkin Conservation Fund, a non-governmental organization established in 1994 that operates in Tanzania. The group's focus is conservation issues, and they assist the Tanzanian government with the management (including anti-poaching activities) of its Protected Areas, help uplift rural communities with education, income generation & clean water/health projects, and conduct wildlife monitoring & research. The organization was founded by Tom and Dan Friedkin and is supported by private donations and profits from Friedkin's Tanzania Game Tracker Safaris.
Toyota distributorship
Friedkin has built Gulf States Toyota Distributors into a multibillion-dollar franchise that buys Toyota, Scion and LexusLexus
is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. First introduced in 1989 in the United States, Lexus is now sold globally and has become Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. The Lexus marque is marketed in over 70 countries and territories worldwide, and has...
cars wholesale and sells them—as well as parts and service—to about 150 dealerships in his franchise states of Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. GST's sales account for nearly 13% of Toyota sales in the United States. GST is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Friedkin Companies and ranked 53rd on the Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
2008 list of America's Largest Private Companies with revenues estimated at $5.7 billion.
GST's corporate headquarters is in west Houston with a 400000 square feet (37,161.2 m²) campus consisting of a five story and a ten story building, connected by a concourse and an eight floor parking garage. The complex includes a 40000 square feet (3,716.1 m²) training center, in addition to Gulf States Marketing and Gulf States Financial Services offices.
Gulf States Toyota Distributors is one of only two private Toyota distributors in the United States. The other is Southeast Toyota Distributors, founded by the late billionaire Jim Moran.
By 2001, Tom Friedkin, then 66, had turned over responsibility for running the holding firm and its 3,000 employees to son Dan, but remained Chairman of the Board and was content to dispense advice. "I'm kind of a bum these days," he told Forbes. "I am not a greedy person, and I don't have to make the last dollar there ever was."
The Friedkin Disaster Relief Fund
The Friedkin Companies, the owner of Gulf States Toyota, contributed $2 million in 2005 to establish the Friedkin Disaster Relief Fund to help provide relief to Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
victims who worked for Toyota and other dealerships.
The Friedkin Foundation takes care of his philanthropic activities.