On January 3rd, 1979, Conrad Hilton, 91, passed away peacefully. Born in 1887 in San Antonio, New Mexico, Hilton was a true American success story. He began his career running hotels his father had purchased, and went on to create his own hotel empire. Three generations of his company, Hilton Hotels Corporation, have continued to expand his legacy. Hilton's innovative business strategies redefined the hotel industry. In 1949, he was the first to introduce a “guaranteed reservation” service for separate hotel rooms, and was also one of the first to make room service available in all of his rooms. He received the Cornell Hotel Society Gold Medal of Honor in 1965, and in 1979 the American Hotel & Lodging Association inducted him into the Hospitality Hall of Honor. Hilton was passionate about giving back. In 1946, he founded the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, which supports existing organizations and establishes a sustainable program of philanthropy in areas like mental illness, poverty, and disaster relief. He is survived by his son Barron, and his daughter-in-law Marilyn, who currently serve as co-chairman of Hilton Hotels. Conrad Hilton was an inspirational American success story, whose vision and philanthropic dedication have changed the world for the better. He will be deeply missed.