The character of Jett Rink in her novel "Giant" was loosely based upon the life of Texas oilman Glenn McCarthy . McCarthy built the Shamrock Hotel at a cost of $21 million. It opened on St. Patrick's Day 1949 with a grand-opening party costing over $1 million. Ferber was one of the guests who stayed in the hotel, and after meeting with him, she decided to write a novel based upon his life. McCarthy sold the hotel to the Hilton family in 1955.She made her acting debut in Orson Welles ' 1939 non-musical, Mercury Theatre radio production of her own 1926 novel, "Show Boat," playing the role of Parthy Ann Hawks.Pictured on a USA 83¢ postage stamp issued 29 July 2002.She began as a reporter for the Milwaukee Journal.Won a Pulitzer Prize for the novel "So Big" in 1925.