STRICTLY BUSINESS: UNCLE SAM NAMED AFTER SAM WILSON N.Y. PATRIOT

Samuel Wilson's name DOES appear in most encyclopedias, but not where you'd expect, under "Wilson."

Try "Uncle Sam."

Samuel Wilson was a businessman, and history tells us it was Wilson who may have been responsible for the "Uncle Sam" designation that symbolizes the United State.

He was born in Massachusetts on Sept. 13, 1776, the son of a Minuteman.

Young Samuel served as a messenger and service boy for the army of the colonies. He tended livestock and performed other routine farm chores typical for boys his age in the effort to help feed the soldiers.

Following the Revolutionary War, Wilson put his livestock experience to work. He went into the meat-packing business.

In 1812, Wilson found himself involved in another effort to help feed soldiers of the American Army. During the War of 1812, the young United States of America was at war again with the British.

Samuel Wilson's meat-packing business was invaluable to the war effort, supplying beef to the American Army. Barrels of beef were shipped to the front lines to feed the soldiers, and each barrel was marked with the letters, "U.S."

The U.S., stood for United States, but not according to the soldiers on the receiving line of the barrels of meat. The soldiers said the U.S. stood for the nickname of the benefactor who suppled the beef.

Denny Banister, assistant director of information and public relations for the Missouri Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization, reminded us recently that Samuel Wilson was a "very loved and respected man.

His generosity was known far beyond the community where he worked and lived, noted Banister in a Farm Bureau column. A friend to all Samuel Wilson was fondly nicknamed and called "Uncle Sam" (U.S.).

This bit of information sent this writer to The World Book."

No mention was found of Samuel Wilson under the "W's."

'Uncle Sam' catches on

Under the "U's" and "Uncle Sam," and a book, "The Adventures of Uncle Sam," it was asserted that the term, Uncle Sam, had its origin in a specific person -- Samuel "Uncle Sam" Wilson of Troy, N.Y.

The soldiers serving in the War of 1812 knew about the kindness and generosity of Wilson, and they knew the barrels of beef came from Wilson's meat-packing business in Troy.

Thus, the soldier said the U.S. on the barrels stood for "Uncle Sam."

The nickname caught on, and soon U.S. and Uncle Sam became synonymous among the soldiers. Newspaper cartoonist started drawing a tall, thin, bearded man dressed in red, white and blue stars and stripes, clothing to portray Uncle Sam, who in turn portrayed the U.S. government.

Of course, Uncle Sam appeared in several forms in different periods of U.S. history. In one political cartoon from 1934, a beardless Uncle Sam was portrayed wearing a striped gown and night cape, representing an "ailing" U.S., during the depression.

In another post, perhaps the most famous of all, Uncle Sam was shown in top hat, beard and urging men to enlist in the U.S. Army during World War I. This portrait was painted by noted artist James Montgomery Flagg.

The costume of Uncle Sam originated in the cartoons of the 1830s and 1840s.

Congress has ensured that Samuel Wilson would not be forgotten to history.

And while his name and story may not appear in history books, Samuel Wilson's name does appear in the Federal Register. In 1961, Congress passed a resolution officially recognizing Samuel Wilson as the real Uncle Sam.

Wilson has been described as a true American patriot. He was a farmer who helped America win and keep independence.

On a belated note, here's wishing a Happy Fourth of July to Uncle Sam.

Gambling on the river(s)

When the Boyd Gaming Corp. corporate jet landed at the Jefferson City Airport last week, it created some excitement.

Mainly, "Why?"

We received phone calls here asking if "anything was new" concerning Boyd's development agreement to established a riverfront gambling riverboat casino at Cape Girardeau.

Or if Boyd was interested in some other Missouri site.

The answer to both of those questions are probably a big "NO."

The Boyd Group was in Jefferson City for the relicensing process for its Kansas City casino, during a Missouri Gaming Commission meeting.

It's no secret that Boyd Gaming is not happy with its K.C. operation. Boyd officials acknowledged that the casino has fallen 40 percent short of its initial income projections and 20 percent short of more modest revenue goals disclosed to the commission at last year's relicensing.

Bill Boyd, chairman of the board of Boyd Gaming Corp., told the commissioners that new marketing efforts are under way. The commission approve the Sam's Town relicensing. Sam's Town reported only $3.9 million winnings in May.

Also approved for relicensing last week was Harrah's Casino.

Harrah's tops on win list

Harrah's, headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., has been one of the more lucrative operations in the Kansas City metropolitan area. In May, Harrah's reported winnings of $13.3 at its North Kansas City casino and shared in $10.8 million with Players International at the St. Louis Riverport operation.

Total Missouri casino winnings in May were $64.8 million, up 37 percent from May 1996.

Individual casino winnings:

Harrah's, Kansas City, $13.3 million.

Harrah's, Riverport, St. Louis, $5.4 million.

Station Casino, K.C., $9.9 million.

Station Casino, St. Charles, $10.1 million

Players, Riverport, St. Louis, $5.25 million.

Admiral, St. Louis, $5.4 million.

Argosy, K.C., $5.4 million.

Sam's Town, K.C., $3.5 million.

Hilton Casino, K.C., $3.2 million.

Aztar, Caruthersville, $1.9 million.

Frontier, St. Joseph, $1.5 million.

Tunica happenings

Circus Circus Casino will be out ... Gold Strike Casino Resort is in.

Circus Circus is taking reservations for the new Gold Strike Casino Resort hotel expected to open in North Tunica County, Miss., in December.

Circus Circus is being re-themed and re-named.

The complete renovation of Circus Circus into Gold Strike is scheduled for completion this year but will assume its new Gold Strike name in September.

The new Gold Strike Hotel, a 31-story, 317-foot tall structure, will be the tallest building in Mississippi and will include 1,200 rooms, including 100 suites.

A new 800-seat, theater-style showroom will feature Vegas-style entertainment.

Circus Circus Enterprises Inc. owns and operates 10 properties in Nevada -- Las Vegas and Reno -- and owns half-interest in the Grand Victoria Riverboat Casino in Elgin, Ill.

The new-look resort in Tunica County will employ 1,200 to 1,300 people.

Circus Circus opened its casino in Tunica in August 1994.

New commission member

A new member has been named to the Missouri Gaming Commission.

Gov. Mel Carnahan has named Robert C. Smith of Columbia to the commission, replacing Robert Clayton, who resigned after being appointed Circuit Judge in Marion County.

Smith, 73, is the former senior partner with the law firm of Smith, Lewis, Beckett, Powell and Roark in Columbia. He also served in the Missouri House of Representatives and as mayor of Columbia.

Smith received his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

B. Ray Owen is business editor for the Southeast Missourian.