 The pioneering forest behind the iconic Hilton Hotels Conrad Nicholson Hilton, born on December 25, 1887 in San Antonio, New Mexico, rose from humble beginnings that would end up shaping his pursuit of success. Growing up in a small family with Norwegian roots, young Conrad valued hard work, integrity and the importance of genuine connections. In fact, he was shaped by some major influences which included his parents, his sisters and the Catholic Church. Conrad's mom always told him that when life hit him with challenges, whether it was losing his favorite pony or going through a rough patch during the Great Depression, head to church and pray it out.