B. B. Paddock: Entrepreneur & Civic Leader

Fort Worth entrepreneur and civic leader, Buckley Burton (B. B.) Paddock was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on January 22, 1844. He studied law in Mississippi following his distinguished Confederate army service. Paddock moved to Fort Worth in 1872 to practice law and quickly immersed himself in business and civic efforts promoting the city. As editor of the Fort Worth Democrat (1873-1881); president of the Fort Worth & Rio Grande Railway Company (1885-1889); founder and executive secretary of the Fort Worth Board of Trade (1901-1909); and president of the Texas Spring Palace (1889-1890), Paddock helped raise Fort Worth to regional and national prominence. Politically active, he was city mayor (1892-1900); represented Tarrant County in the State Legislature (1881-1883; 1913-1915); and was instrumental in creating Fort Worth's first fire department, water works and school system. He edited four books on the history of Fort Worth and northwest Texas. His 1873 Tarantula railroad map foretold Fort Worth's role as a railroad and distribution center. Paddock Viaduct, the 1914 bridge spanning the Trinity River north of the courthouse was named in his honor. Paddock passed away in 1922 leaving his widow, Emmie, two sons and a daughter.

B. B. Paddock Papers, Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington