Not everybody can make a pair of shoes shine, you know. I’m doing what I want to do—satisfying people with my work. And that’s all I’ve tried to do all my life.
—Beau Jack
Even before Beau Jack hung up the gloves, stories came out about his financial woes asserting how he had been robbed by his management team and/or the Syndicate that promised to stow his earnings into a trust account. Numerous reports indicated that Beau grossed over $2,000,000 during his boxing career but was left penniless. Beau, himself, declared that he was broke. Were his earnings gone? If so, was there someone to blame? Some commentators suggested that an unethical split of his purses in favor of Bowman Milligan was to blame, while others asserted it was due to Beau spending his earnings on a lavish lifestyle. Yet others faulted the Syndicate for failing to properly invest his money. How much did Beau really make in the ring? Was he broke?
Accounts suggest that Beau personally earned between $300,000 and $500,000 during his career. By the end of his career, however, Beau appeared broke. Beau said it was after his fight with Tony Janiro on February 21, 1947, that he learned that his ring earnings had disappeared. He wasn’t quite sure what he made, but stated, “I hardly saw a cent of it.”1 Jack was infuriated. “I wanted to take a gun and do something about it,” rasped Beau. “People have killed for less than that. But then I thought about my family and how they would feel if I was on my way to the electric chair.”2 Beau was angry and distraught when he learned that he had been the victim of deception.
More stories came out in the following years. In January 1949, a visibly shaken Chick Wergeles told Dan Burley (1907–1962),3 sportswriter and future editor of the New York Age, that Beau’s earnings had evaporated into thin air.4 In March, a headline in the Winnipeg Tribune read, “Beau Jack Is ‘Broke.’”5 In October, Beau corroborated his financial woes in an interview with Wendell Smith of the Pittsburgh Courier. “I had me $100,000 salted away,” grumbled Beau, “but when I checked up I found out it was all gone.”6 That same year, his manager Chick Wergeles, in an interview with Allen Ward, sportswriter for the Oakland Tribune, again confirmed that Beau was virtually broke. New York Times sports columnist Arthur Daley also corroborated it in 1951.7 Moreover, in August 1951, Beau, apparently penniless, was reportedly receiving $55 a week from the National Sports Alliance Boxers’ Pension Fund, which offered assistance to indigent boxers.8
Beau’s financial difficulties were well known, and he didn’t mind acknowledging it publicly. Jack appeared on the CBS game show “Strike It Rich” in New York during the week of July 12, 1957. “Strike It Rich” aired on radio and television from 1947 through 1957. People in need of money due to unfortunate circumstances were selected as contestants. Contestants told their unfortunate tales of despair and then tried to win money by answering four reasonably easy questions. Each player would receive $30 to bet with, answering each question after being given a category. If a contestant didn’t win any money, the host Warren Hull opened the “Heart Line,” a phone line that allowed viewers to donate money or merchandise to the contestant and his or her family.
Jack sat backstage before his appearance on “Strike It Rich,” waiting for his cue with his wife and seven of his ten children. When Warren Hull called on Beau Jack to tell his story, Beau described his financial woes. “I’m broke,” he explained. “Not dead broke, just broke.”9 Beau did well on the show. He collected $444 and with “Heartline” calls his total was $600. Beau won three fishing poles as well. With the money he won, Beau announced he was planning to add on another room to his four-room house in Augusta, where his family lived. If Beau was broke, where did his earnings go?
Unethical Split
In 1950, Red McQueen of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser blamed the disappearance of Beau’s ring earnings on the unethical percentage retained by Bowman Milligan.10 In other words, Beau didn’t receive a boxer’s legal share of his purses. McQueen pointed the finger at the management deal established by the Syndicate between Beau Jack and Bowman Milligan. Milligan landed an exceptionally unethical and unfair deal for helping Jack. At the time in New York, a manager was legally not entitled to collect more than 1/3 of a boxer’s earnings. Milligan, however, received fifty percent of Beau’s earnings. Then when Chick Wergeles was hired in the summer of 1941, he received twenty-five percent, leaving only twenty-five percent for Beau.
Sportswriters were generally in consensus that Beau’s financial difficulties were primarily due to the unethical, if not unlawful, agreement granted Bowman Milligan. Stanley Woodward of The Miami News and Dan Parker of the Courier-Post agreed with McQueen, blaming Beau’s financial woes on the Milligan contract.11 The split was great for Milligan but left Beau with the short end. Thanks to Beau’s success, Bowman’s pockets were virtually lined with gold. Milligan also received the purses on behalf of the team. It was his responsibility to ensure the money was appropriately divided.
Only after his best paydays were behind him and Bowman had departed, did Beau finally began to receive his fair share of the earnings. Chick Wergeles saw to it. Under the sole handling of Wergeles, Chick made sure that his fighter received two thirds of his earnings as required by the New York State Athletic Commission. Unfortunately, after breaking his knee in the Janiro fight, Beau’s earning would never be as high as they once were. In fact, he only appeared in four more matches with gross gates of $50,000 or more. Chick, however, stuck it out with Beau, knowing that Jack had to keep fighting to stay afloat.
Lavish Lifestyle and Women
Did Beau squander his earnings by living a lavish lifestyle? Bill Plaschke (1958–), a writer for the Fort Lauderdale News, attributed Beau’s financial woes to his lifestyle. “The homeless boy who was so used to poverty discovered the fun of buying fancy clothes, nightclubs and entertaining a gang of friends,” wrote Plaschke. “Beau Jack’s chief interest in life out of boxing … became the sleek beauties of Harlem who were only too pleased to entertain the champion.”12 Even after Beau broke his knee and was no longer earning big purses, Plaschke, a five-time winner of the Associated Press’s National Sports Columnist of the Year, asserted that he was spending money at the same old fast clip.
Chick Wergeles also attributed part of Beau’s misfortune on the women in his life. “There were three wives,” Wergeles said. “He was serious, but they were just out to take his money and one by one they left him when they thought he was broke. The first wife left him with three children. Beau has to pay $200 a month for their support and $2,000 a year alimony.”13 Expensive paternity suits may have also been a contributor.
It is unclear how many wives Beau had, but by most accounts it was two. Nonetheless, he was undeniably a ladies’ man. He married his first wife, Josephine Jones, before leaving for Springfield in 1940. In April of 1948, a photo and story came out detailing Beau and his “wife” Margaret Shepherd Walker’s trip to Vero Beach, Florida. Margaret was photographed picking an orange after the couple watched Jackie Robinson hit a home run in spring training. Later that year, there were rumors that the couple was divorcing, and that Beau was dating Mary Swiggert. Three years later, he and his first wife Josephine were reportedly living together at their place on New Savannah Road in Augusta. In between, Beau made news in New York when he was dating Ruby Valdez during the summer of 1951. His former wives or girlfriends were undeniably a toll on Beau financially.
Sportswriter Pat Robinson of the Arizona Republic concurred in attributing Beau’s financial demise to himself. Beau, apparently, gave in to the temptations of the nightlife, as well as gambling. Pat Robinson explained. Early in Beau’s career, wrote Robinson, he was a “sweet, lovable kid.” He didn’t have a sweetheart and “he was not the kind of a boy who would ever be lured by the bright lights of Broadway.” Later, it was discovered that Beau had left a wife and children in Georgia. As for never being “lured by the lights of Broadway” it didn’t take him long to not only discover the lights of Broadway but also those up in Harlem. Robinson also blamed Beau’s fancy with horse racing. “He also quickly discovered that horses were running at Belmont, Aqueduct and Jamaica, and that those places were easily accessible and that bets could be made there.”14 Sportswriter Red McQueen and Fred Young (1892–1980), sports editor for The Pantagraph in Bloomington, Illinois, agreed in part, imputing Beau’s finances partially on his lavish lifestyle.
Other people faulted Beau’s big heart as the conundrum. Beau undeniably was willing to spend money on others, especially if he thought he could help them. Les Matthews with the New York Age reported, “Beau Jack picks up every fighter he sees roaming the street at night and takes him fishing.”15 Beau enjoyed helping others, but it does not seem to be an adequate explanation as his earnings were sent to Augusta to be placed in a trust account.
Of course, many disagreed that Beau Jack lived lavishly. Sportswriter and scout for the Pittsburgh Steelers Bill Nunn (1924–2014) was one of those who disagreed. “Funny part about Jack was he didn’t squander his money,” commented Nunn in 1955. “During the height of his career he lived in a far from glamorous single room in Harlem and received all of $15 a week to live on.”16 Living in a single room in Harlem does not sound very lavish.
Were a lavish lifestyle and the numerous women a reason for Beau to be broke? It can only explain a small portion of his financial situation. Chick Wergeles stated that when purses were collected for Beau’s fights, Beau’s twenty-five percent was sent to Augusta to be placed in trust for him at the Georgia Railroad Bank. Fred Young was in accord. Even if “Beau was throwing his money around like a Texas oil baron doing the town,” stated Young, “the competence was being salted away against the time when Beau had fought himself out.”17
How Much Did Beau Make?
How much did Beau make in the ring? It is not an easy question to answer, but accounting for different variables, one can obtain a fair idea. First, one must distinguish between gross receipts and actual money received by Beau’s management team (“BJ’s Team”). A fighter receives a guarantee and/or a percentage of the gate after the promoter takes their share and expenses are paid. The amount paid the boxer is then split with a portion being taken out for his manager and costs for a trainer, etc.
What were the gross gates for Beau’s matches? Red McQueen calculated Beau’s total revenues during his best five years at almost $2 million.18 Bill Nunn, Jr., and numerous other sportswriters agreed, asserting that Beau drew gates totaling more than $2 million.19 Stanley Woodward (1895–1965), outstanding sports writer and future member of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame, presented a more detailed calculation of revenue produced by Beau, but only examined 19 fights during Beau’s best five years. He calculated that net gates amounted to $1,491,756.20
The above interpretations are rudimentary at best. Table 1 presents the gross gates for 51 contests in which Beau was featured in main events between 1941 and 1951. Gross gates equal $2,223,770. See Table 1. Of course, that does not account for 69 other small “money” contests.
*Although the gross gate is unknown, Beau received $850 for his October 31, 1941, contest with Guillermo Puentes and $1,000 for his August 18, 1942, bout with Carmine Fatta.
How much did BJ’s team receive from the gross gates? McQueen and Nunn estimated that during Beau’s best five years, his team collected purses totaling over a half million or one fourth of the gross gates.21 When known, BJ Team’s share of the purses is presented in Table 1, but it only accounts for seventeen matches. In the 15 contests in which both the gross gate and the amount received by BJ’s Team are known, the gross gate was $1,050,997. Out of that amount, BJ’s Team received $275,674 (or 26.229 percent of the gross gate). Although not perfect, if 26.229 percent is applied to the thirtysix bouts in which only the gross gate is known ($1,172,773), BJ’s Team would have received $307,614.94. Adding the estimated receipts to the known proceeds, BJ’s Team received $583,289 for the 51 contests listed in Table 1.
How much did Beau personally receive? Several sportswriters have attempted to estimate the amount. In 1951, Jack Cuddy calculated that Beau should have personally earned over $300,000.22 In 1956, Dan Parker’s computations resulted in a much lower amount. He estimated that Beau earned $123,778. Parker went further to explain that out of the $123,778 received by Beau, he “paid $44,873 in taxes and was allowed to keep 25 percent of the balance of $78,905, or $19,726.25.”23
Sportswriter J. Suter Kegg (1917–2002) of the Cumberland Evening Times emphasized the impact of taxes and explained that Beau never made much money. “The fact is that Beau Jack never earned more than $25,000 a year (net after taxes) in his best days, and the fact is that Beau Jack squandered most of his money despite the charitable and philanthropic attitude of his original sponsors in Augusta. It also should be remembered that the Beau’s big years were also big tax years because of the war.”24 No doubt taxes were extremely high. The Revenue Act of 1942 increased taxes to help support the U.S. war effort in World War II. For example, the tax bracket used for income received in 1943 imposed a 78 percent federal income tax on income of $50,000 and 90 percent on income of $90,000.
Table 1 presents the most detailed analysis of Beau’s earnings. If BJ’s Team received $583,289, Beau would have been entitled to one fourth or $145,822.25. As pointed out by Dan Parker, taxes would have reduced that amount. If we use the same rate as Parker, Beau would have paid $52,933.48 (36.3 percent) in taxes, leaving him with $92,888.78. The tax rate utilized by Parker, however, appears to be on the low side.
Did the Syndicate Squander Beau’s Money?
Chick averred that Beau was fleeced by people he thought were his friends and spoke harshly of the “so-called southern millionaires who originally backed Beau Jack.”25 In 1951, Arthur Daley of the New York Times reported that Beau was broke because his associates swindled his money. “He’s broke,” Daley wrote, “because he was robbed of his heritage, his earnings squandered away.”26 In 1955, Bill Nunn, Jr., also blamed the Syndicate for not correctly investing his earnings.
On the contrary, Beau’s hometown newspaper, the Augusta Herald, disagreed that Beau was “down and out” or that his earnings had been poorly invested. Randy Russell, an editorial writer for the Augusta Herald and former sports editor, writing in 1955 for Sport magazine, disputed that Beau’s earnings were stolen or misspent. In fact, he praised those that invested Beau’s earnings. According to Russell, in 1955, Beau’s assets included a $10,000 life insurance annuity, a $15,000 trust account, and an $18,000 farm.
The initial investment in the trust fund was $12,000, but since then the trust fund had produced a return of $35,000. Russell touted the savvy investment of Beau’s money. “Even the bank officials were surprised,” said Russel, “that they had taken a $12,000 investment from Beau and provided a $35,000 return.”27 From that amount, Jack had withdrawn $20,000 of the profit.
Utilizing Russell’s accounting, it appears that between $22,000 and $40,000 was invested on Beau’s behalf. If the farm was bought from Beau’s $20,000 withdrawal, the total amount deposited in the Georgia Bank and Trust on Beau’s behalf would have been $22,000 ($12,000 trust + $10,000 annuity). The trust amount grew to $35,000 through the bank’s investments. Deducting $20,000 withdrawn by Beau, the amount would correspond with what Russell stated was in the trust, $15,000. On the other hand, if Beau’s farm was purchased with undisclosed bank funds, the amount originally invested would have been $40,000 ($18,000 farm + $12,000 trust + $10,000 annuity).
Although the return on the trust was remarkable, if the $92,888.78 roughly calculated above is accurate, there is a discrepancy of $52,888.78 to $70,888.78 that is not explained. Therefore, there appears to be some validity in the assertions that Beau did not receive a substantial portion of his earnings. Perhaps the tax rate applied to Beau’s earnings was higher than that utilized by Dan Parker.
Beau, however, did not blame the original group of people or the Syndicate that raised the money to start his boxing career. In 1955, Art Grace of the Miami News questioned Beau whether the Syndicate gave him the short end of his earnings. Beau said emphatically, “NO, SUH.” “That’s not so. I got a good annuity back home. But that’s for the kids when they go to college and all. I don’t want to touch that money. Those men in the syndicate were all fine men.”28 He appeared to hold no ill will against the Syndicate that gave him his start in boxing.
Beau Not Angry
Although Beau could never explain where all his money went, he persistently made light of his situation. He put it like this: “[A]ny time you have a bottle of milk and it breaks, it’s gone. You can’t bring it back.”29 Beau was distraught when he learned that he had been swindled. As was typical for Beau Jack, however, his anger and frustration were short lived. “I don’t worry about money,” Jack replied, “I got a good job. I got my health and strength. I have nothing to worry about except to stay healthy.”30 Beau continued to forgive and not worry about his finances. In an interview with Dave Condon of the Chicago Tribune in 1969, Beau was troubled that he didn’t receive the money he thought he deserved but did not express anger. “My biggest purse was about $48,000,” stated Beau. “So many years ago I don’t care. Don’t even want to think about what I used to make, because I never got all of it, anyhow. Way I see this life,” explained Beau, “every day a man has to do a day’s work. One day he gets paid $48,000. Another day, maybe $5.”31 Irrespective of his finances, Beau relished the opportunity he was provided. All he wanted to do was fight, even if he never made any money. Fighting was the highlight of his life, and he climbed to the pinnacle, winning two lightweight world titles.
Beau was encouraged numerous times to prosecute Bowman Milligan and his former handlers. In early 1951, Chick Wergeles asked Beau to prosecute those who had “milked” him of his money, but Beau refused. “Naw, ah can’t do that,” said the deeply religious Beau. “Ah cain’t be a revenger. God’ll punish ’em.”32 Sportswriter Jimmy Cannon suggested, as Wergeles did years earlier, that Beau go to the District Attorney to seek help for his losses. Beau, however, would have none of it. “God take care of that,” said Beau Jack. “He want you poor, you be poor. He know what they do to me. He know all about it. You can’t tell God nothing He don’t know.”33 Again, Beau responded that God will take care of those who mistreated him. He was not looking for a conflict outside of the ring and relentlessly maintained his optimistic attitude.
Beau Not Broke
There is an alternative explanation of Beau’s finances. Perhaps, he just acted broke. In a 1988 interview with Gary Smith of Sports Illustrated magazine, Smith asked Beau how he got by. Beau responded, “Don’t you worry. There’s a famous man sends me a check every month, enough to live on.”34
Subsequently, Gary Smith spoke with Beau’s son Jonathan. Jonathan also disputed the notion that his father was broke and had to shine shoes for a living. “My dad didn’t need to shine shoes,” said Jonathan. “He just went back to what he knew before boxing.”35 Jonathan explained that Beau had five of his children in private school while he was shining shoes and that he had a closet full of suits at his mother’s house.
Jonathan went on to praise Beau’s big heart and giving attitude. “We could get anything from my dad—all we had to do was ask,” said Jonathan. “I tested him once. I asked him to buy me a DeLorean. He looked at me for two minutes. ‘Are you a good son?’ he asked. I said, ‘I guess so.’ He said, ‘Listen to your mom, and I’ll get it for you.’ I started feeling guilty. I said, ‘No, that’s O.K., Dad.’ So, he bought me a Mustang instead .”36
Although Jonathan believes his dad’s manager swindled him, Beau still had assets. “His manager ripped him off, but not everything,” Jonathan said. “He’s got land in Georgia, some investments. And he doesn’t spend money, lives real simple.” Jonathan begged him to move out of his one-room apartment he lived in because it was in a bad area. Beau responded, “Son, always play broke. Don’t let people know you have a cent.”37
Beau had 15 children (ten boys and five girls). According to Jack, even while he was shining shoes, he managed to send them all to college. Furthermore, he also paid for his second wife to go through Miami-Dade Junior College. Shining shoes would not be adequate to pay for their educations.
1. Roy Kerrison, “Beau Jack, a Happy Fallen Idol,” Age, August 5, 1957, 14.
2. Oscar Fraley, “Today’s Sport Parade,” Orlando Sentinel, July 29, 1957, 4.
3. Dan Burley was the editor of numerous African American publications, such as the New York Age, Amsterdam News, Jet, and Ebony. He was also a well-known actor and pianist.
4. Dan Burley, “Dan Burley on Sports,” New York Age, January 29, 1949, 12.
5. “Beau Jack Is ‘Broke.’” The Winnipeg Tribune, March 30, 1949, 18.
6. Wendell Smith, “Sports Beat: Beau Jack’s Fighting for Another Pile,” Pittsburgh Courier, October 22, 1949, 22.
7. Arthur Daley, “Larceny at Its Worst,” New York Times, May 25, 1951, 39.
8. Jack Lait, “Why Elizabeth Will Skip N.Y.; Queen Mary Back of Decision,” Akron-Beacon Journal, August 28, 1951, 5.
9. Roy Kerrison, “Beau Jack, a Happy Fallen Idol,” Age, August 5, 1957, 14.
10. Red McQueen, “Hoomalimali by Red McQueen,” Honolulu Advertiser, October 3, 1950, 12.
11. Stanley Woodward, “Masters Recalls a Little Champ,” Miami News, April 5, 1954, 11. Dan Parker, “Broadway Bugle,” Courier-Post, February 27, 1956, 19.
12. Bill Plaschke, “After the Punch Is Gone,” Fort Lauderdale News, June 28, 1982, 59.
13. “Beau Jack Is ‘Broke.’” The Winnipeg Tribune, March 30, 1949, 18.
14. Pat Robinson, “Beau Jack to Try Comeback,” Arizona Republic, January 3, 1955, 20.
15. Les Matthews, “Sports Train,” New York Age, July 14, 1951, 9.
16. Bill Nunn, Jr., “Change of Pace,” Pittsburgh Courier, January 29, 1955, 15.
17. Fred Young, “Young’s Yarns,” Pantagraph, June 17, 1951, 11.
18. Red McQueen, “Hoomalimali by Red McQueen,” Honolulu Advertiser, October 3, 1950, 12.
19. Bill Nunn, Jr., “Change of Pace,” Pittsburgh Courier, January 29, 1955, 15.
20. Stanley Woodward, “Masters Recalls a Little Champ,” Miami News, April 5, 1954, 11.
21. Red McQueen, “Hoomalimali by Red McQueen,” Honolulu Advertiser, October 3, 1950, 12.
22. Jack Cuddy, “Garden Prepares for Pep-Saddler Battle,” Honolulu Star-Advertiser, February 4, 1951, 15.
23. Dan Parker, “Broadway Bugle,” Courier-Post, February 27, 1956, 19.
24. J. Suter Kegg, “Tapping the Sports Keg: Is Beau Jack Broke?” Cumberland Evening Times, June 18, 1951, 7–8.
25. Dan Burley, “Dan Burley on Sports,” New York Age, January 29, 1949, 12.
26. Arthur Daley, “Larceny at Its Worst,” New York Times, May 25, 1951, 39.
27. “Beau Jack Gets Good Results from Bank’s Handling of Funds,” Augusta Chronicle, September 4, 1955, 12B.
28. Art Grace, “Beau Wants Another Chance,” Miami News, July 25, 1955, 6.
29. Frank Colley, “The Colley See Um Sports,” Morning Herald, March 6, 1961, 16.
30. Jimmy Cannon, “Beau Jack May Be Shine Boy to Tourists but Not Cannon,” Asheville Citizen-Times, March 29, 1957, 29.
31. Dave Condon, “In the Wake of the News,” Chicago Tribune, March 22, 1969, 1.
32. Jack Cuddy, “Garden Prepares for Pep-Saddler Battle,” Honolulu Star-Advertiser, February 4, 1951, 15.
33. Jimmy Cannon, “Beau Jack’s Shining Shoes Again,” Orlando Sentinel, April 10, 1959, 3.
34. Gary Smith, “Still Fighting Old Wars Former Lightweight Champ Beau Jack Lives Out His Legend,” Sports Illustrated, February 15, 1988, http://www.si.com/vault/1988/02/15/117125/still-fighting-old-wars-former-lightweight-champ-beau-jack-lives-out-his-legend, accessed December 11, 2017.
35. Gary Smith, “Still Fighting Old Wars Former Lightweight Champ Beau Jack Lives Out His Legend,” Sports Illustrated, February 15, 1988, http://www.si.com/vault/1988/02/15/117125/still-fighting-old-wars-former-lightweight-champ-beau-jack-lives-out-his-legend, accessed December 11, 2017.
36. Ibid.
37. Ibid.