Tuesday, Oct. 22, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
When Chuck Waldron's daughter Nicole drowned in the Caribbean, his boss sent him and his wife, Colleen, a heartfelt letter of sorrow.
Waldron's employer noted that there was nothing he could do to ease their pain, though he offered to help in any way he could.
Indeed, reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes truly was moved by the death of his employee's child. For it was while doing Hughes' bidding that Waldron, one of very few people to actually meet face-to-face with Hughes in his later years, had brought his family to the islands.
"My dad never forgot how Mr. Hughes showed concern over our family's loss," said Todd Waldron, a Pahrump chiropractor. "He always had admired Howard Hughes as a sharp businessman. After that, he admired him more as a compassionate man."
Clarence "Chuck" Waldron, one of six Hughes aides who were collectively and affectionately known as "The Mormon Mafia" and a longtime Las Vegas businessman known for his jovial nature and generosity, died of cancer Saturday in Las Vegas. He was 62.
Services for the 19-year Las Vegas resident were to be held today at the LDS Palmyra Ward, 1801 S. Monte Cristo Way. Burial was to be in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Palm Mortuary handled the arrangements.
"Chuck was a sincere guy and a great family man," said longtime friend Barney Rawlings, who performed as a singing emcee on the Strip in the 1940s and is in his 50th year in the Las Vegas entertainment industry.
"He often spoke of Howard Hughes' ability to listen, understand and care -- qualities Chuck very much possessed."
Rawlings, at the family's request, will sing "Because," a wedding standard, at Waldron's funeral. It was a longtime favorite of Chuck and Colleen, who were married April 13, 1953, in Burbank, Calif.
Waldron started his 20-year association with Hughes' companies in the 1960s as a special projects worker for the Hughes Tool Co., and ended it in the 1980s with Summa, the company that at one time oversaw Hughes' vast gaming empire.
In recent years, Waldron was a development executive and a member of the board of directors of Peccole Ranch, a major northwest Las Vegas residential development.
In the 1970s, Waldron was the youngest of the six men who would meet in person with Hughes, who had gone from being a very public aviator and movie studio mogul in his youth to being a hermit tycoon in his later years. He died April 5, 1976.
"Dad was basically one of Mr. Hughes' buffers from society," Todd said. "He would do business transactions for him, then report back with the results."
Waldron is the second of the six Hughes aides to die. Johnny Holmes, the only Catholic in the group, which consisted of five members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- died several months ago.
The other Hughes advisers were Howard Eckersley, James Rickard, Lamar Myler and George Fracom.
Although Waldron started to write a book about his years with Hughes, he never got around to finishing it, his son said.
"Dad wanted to write something that would put to rest all of the wild rumors," Todd said. "Dad said he (Hughes) never grew his hair and fingernails real long. And although he was very clean, it was not to the extent of the rumors.
"Although my father said Mr. Hughes did wash his hands a lot, sometimes in (rubbing) alcohol."
Waldron was born Oct. 6, 1934, in his grandparents' farmhouse in Ridgedale, Idaho. Because of a driving snowstorm, the doctor could not get there in time and Waldron had to be delivered by his father and grandmother.
He spent his early years on the farm before his family moved to California.
At North Hollywood High School, Waldron developed an interest in woodshop and later became a cabinetmaker. When employment became unsteady in that field, Waldron went to work for Hughes Tool Co.
In looking after Hughes' interests, Waldron traveled a lot, working in places such as the Bahamas and Nicaragua.
While Hughes was making impressive business deals in the western United States, Waldron did not invest his earnings in such real estate.
"Mom often urged dad to buy land in the West, but he declined," Todd said. "Dad later said he had wished he had listened to Mom."
Waldron, a longtime visitor to Las Vegas, moved here in 1977 and, after leaving Summa, worked for many years as a local painting contractor.
"People often told me how much they enjoyed being around my dad because he was always such a happy person," Todd said. "He was very helpful and generous in his dealings with people."
Waldron was active in the Mormon Church. He served on the High Council and assisted with the scouting program.
In addition to his son and wife, Waldron is survived by his daughter Lisa Anderson, of Santa Clarita, Calif.; three other sons, Rand Waldron, Damon Waldron and and Ryan Waldron, all of Las Vegas; his mother, Ruby Waldron of Palmdale, Calif.; three sisters, Betty Bundy, Carol Davis and Audrey Evans, all of Palmdale; three brothers, Glen Waldron or Orem, Utah, Floyd Waldron of West Hills, Utah, and Floyd Waldron of Costa Mesa, Calif.; and 11 grandchildren.
Chuck Waldron
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