Jackie Gaughan
Jackie Gaughan | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 24, 1920 Las Vegas, Nevada U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Creighton University |
| Known for | Casino owner |
| Spouse |
Roberta Mae Gaughan
(m. 1942; died 1996) |
| Children |
|
John Davis Gaughan, Sr.
Biography
Gaughan grew up in
He began his career in the gambling industry in Omaha, working as a legal
He purchased the
Gaughan bought the El Cortez from John Kell "J. Kell" Houssels, Sr. in 1963.[2] Houssels had built the El Cortez and sold in 1945 to gangsters Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, Gus Greenbaum and Moe Sedway, only to buy it back later when Seigel and company needed to fund the Flamingo. Upon purchasing the hotel, Gaughan inherited the care of mobster Irish Green, who did right by Bugsy Siegel and got put up in the El Cortez for life. Although he was not entirely pleased with the arrangement, Gaughan looked out for the old mobster till the day he died.[2]
Gaughan owned a stake in the Golden Nugget when Steve Wynn took over the downtown property in 1973.[3] He mentored Steve Wynn as he learned the Vegas casino industry.[4] While casino investment and development began to shift towards The Strip and off-Strip, Gaughan kept his capital invested in downtown. While other downtown casinos began to reduce costs and close, he kept his operations open and continued to invest capital in his properties. At his peak, Gaughan had accumulated more than 25 percent of available downtown real estate, including more than 20 acres of undeveloped land. In 2004, Gaughan sold the Plaza, Gold Spike, Vegas Club and Western, along with substantial pieces of additional downtown real estate, to Barrick Gaming for $82 million.[3]
Family
Gaughan and his wife, Roberta Mae (1921–1996), were married for 54 years, until her death in 1996. The couple had two sons, John and Michael.
Death
Gaughan died on March 12, 2014, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 93.[9][10] His funeral Mass was held on March 17, 2014, at St. Viator Catholic Church, Paradise, Nevada.[11]
References
- ^ "J. Gaughan Is Thanked". The Omaha World-Herald Newspaper. March 17, 1983. p. 29.
He is John Davis "Jackie" Gaughan and his town is Las Vegas.
- ^ a b c d Eric Ryan, Jackie Gaughan, El Cortez integral parts of downtown Las Vegas' rebirth, Las Vegas Sun, May 6, 2012, accessed May 16, 2012.
- ^ a b c Gaughan changeover leaves workers a little melancholy, Las Vegas Sun, March 25, 2004; accessed May 16, 2012.
- ^ a b John L. Smith, Last king of downtown, Jackie Gaughan made money, plenty of friends, Las Vegas Review-Journal, October 25, 2009, accessed May 16, 2012.
- ^ a b c Lisa Carter, Jackie Gaughan Plaza named for legendary gaming industry pioneer, Las Vegas Review-Journal, January 3, 2012; accessed May 16, 2012.
- ^ a b c Member of Gaughan gaming family, Jackie Jr., dies at 54, Las Vegas Sun, November 12, 2002, accessed May 16, 2012.
- ^ "Gaming family matriarch dies at 75", Las Vegas Sun, November 5, 1996, accessed May 16, 2012.
- ^ "Brendan Gaughan to make 4 final Cup starts in 2020 - NBC Sports". 27 January 2020.
- ^ Las Vegas casino pioneer Jackie Gaughan dies at 93, LVRJ, March 12, 2014, accessed March 12, 2014.
- ^ Omaha native, Vegas casino pioneer Jackie Gaughan dies at 93 Archived 2014-03-12 at the Wayback Machine, Omaha.com, March 12, 2014, accessed March 12, 2014.
- ^ Las Vegas says goodbye to Jackie Gaughan, reviewjournal.com; March 17, 2014; accessed March 18, 2014.