 During the first half of the 20th century , William L. Moody Jr. established a business empire , which includes American National Insurance Company , a major national <unk> , and founded the Moody Foundation , one of the largest charitable organizations in the United States . Sam Maceo , a nationally known organized crime boss , with the help of his family , was largely responsible for making Galveston a major U.S. tourist destination from the 1920s to the 1940s . John H. Murphy , a Texas <unk> for seventy @-@ four years , was the longtime executive vice president of the Texas Daily Newspaper Association . Douglas <unk> became one of the early transatlantic aviators , and was given the nickname " Wrong Way " for claiming to have mistakenly made the ocean crossing after being refused permission to make the flight . Grammy @-@ award winning singer @-@ songwriter Barry White was born on the island and later moved to Los Angeles . 
