Charles Bellinger (1875-1937) - Find a Grave Memorial

Businessman, Political Leader. Known for delivered large blocks of black votes to white candidates in exchange for community improvements. As a boy, he learned the art of dealing a deck of cards and became so good at it he was hired to work as a dealer in a gambling establishment. There he worked until he made his boss wealthy. With a little money he then moved to San Antonio. His luck at poker soon helped him to pay down on a home and open a saloon. As he continued to win he opened and expanded his saloon operations city-wide. He also invested in real estate and became San Antonio's greatest entrepreneur. Occasionally, he made cross country gambling trips and became one of the most feared men in the nation at the gambling tables. His gambling abilities were known from coast-to-coast. Having become rich and powerful he was able to gain absolute control of San Antonio's election process. But in 1936 he was convicted of failure to pay income tax. However, he received a pardon from President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Bio by: Deleon Todd