255 – Tom Slick: Millionaire Monster Hunter

A look at the fascinating and adventurous life of millionaire Tom Slick. Inventor, entrepreneur, philanthropist, science enthusiast, paranormal investigator, and – of course – monster hunter!

• Southwest Research Institute (1947) – independent and nonprofit applied research and development (R&D) organization.
• Institute of Inventive Research (defunct) – an applied science and innovation incubator (in a barn at ESSAR) – closed in 57 –
• Mind Science Institute – (1957) research facility to conduct consciousness studies 
• Texas Biomedical Research Institute started in 41 – became current name in 52 – largest privately own bio-agents research facility, largest cluster of statistical gene research computing
• The Argyle Club – run by Tom’s sister – was used as a fundraising mechanism for the science institutes including promoting the relatively new idea of memorializing donations instead of sending flows. (Now quite common, but new at the time) … as they say now “in lieu of flowers please donate…”
• Slick Airways – one of the first cargo transport companies, competed with other early companies and picked up a lot of gov’t contracts including some OSS (now CIA) missions
• Pioneer in developing the Brangus breed of cattle which combined Indian Brahma and Scott Angus breeds for heartier, tastier, heat-resistant breed

Books used in the research of this episode (Amazon Links)

In Search of Tom Slick – new edition of Catherine Nixon Cooke’s book

Searching for Sasquatch – by Brian Regal

Abominable Science – by Loxton & Prothero

Tom Slick: True Life Encounters in Cryptozoology  – by Loren Coleman

The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas  (1957) Hammer Film