Jackie Gaughan: Difference between revisions

Jackie Gaughan
Jackie Gaughan
Born	October 24, 1920; Hastings, Nebraska, U.S.
Died	March 12, 2014 (aged 93); Las Vegas, Nevada U.S.
Alma mater	Creighton University
Known for	Casino owner
Spouse	Roberta Mae Gaughan (m. 1942; died 1996)
Children	John Davis "Jackie" Gaughan, Jr. (1947–2002); Michael Gaughan;

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John Davis Gaughan, Sr.^[1] (October 24, 1920 – March 12, 2014) was a casino owner and operator from the early 1950s in Las Vegas, Nevada. He had an ownership stake in many casinos throughout his career, but he is best known for his ownership of the El Cortez, where he resided until his death on March 12, 2014.^[2] At one time Gaughan reportedly owned more than 25 percent of the available real estate in Downtown Las Vegas.^[3]

Biography

Gaughan grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. He served in World War II and earned a degree from Creighton University.^[4] During his time in the military he served at Las Vegas Air Force Base (now Nellis AFB), giving him his first exposure to the city.^[5]

He began his career in the gambling industry in Omaha, working as a legal bookmaker at horse racing tracks around Omaha. He relocated to Las Vegas in 1950 after passage of a 10 percent tax on the legal bookmaking parlors crippled the industry in Nebraska.^[6] Upon arriving in Las Vegas, he bought a stake in the Flamingo.^[6] He quit his job at the hotel after mobster Davie Berman called him a "dime-a-dozen punk" for asking a favor of the maître d', although he retained three percent ownership of the property.^[2] Gaughan later bought a 3% stake in the Boulder Club.

He purchased the Las Vegas Club in 1961, opened The Western with business partner Mel Exber in 1970, and purchased what became the Gold Spike in 1983. He was a partner, alongside Sam Boyd and Howard Cannon, in the opening of the Union Plaza in 1971, which was renamed Jackie Gaughan's Plaza in the 1990s, and additionally invested in the Golden Nugget, the Royal Inn and the Showboat.^[5]

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.^[7] John F. "Jackie Jr." Gaughan (November 24, 1947 – November 10, 2002) had minor ownership interests in the El Cortez and The Gold Spike. He died in his sleep at age 54.^[6] Michael Gaughan took over many of the day-to-day operations of his father's casinos over the years. Michael Gaughan owns the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa as well as the rights to operate the slot concession at McCarran International Airport.^[5] Gaughan's grandson, Brendan, is a NASCAR driver.^[8]

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.

[J._Gaughan_Is_Thanked-1] "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.

[LVS050612-2] Eric Ryan, Jackie Gaughan, El Cortez integral parts of downtown Las Vegas' rebirth, Las Vegas Sun, May 6, 2012, accessed May 16, 2012.

[LVS032504-3] Gaughan changeover leaves workers a little melancholy, Las Vegas Sun, March 25, 2004; accessed May 16, 2012.

[LVRJ102509-4] 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.

[LVRJ010312-5] Lisa Carter, Jackie Gaughan Plaza named for legendary gaming industry pioneer, Las Vegas Review-Journal, January 3, 2012; accessed May 16, 2012.

[Kid1obit-6] Member of Gaughan gaming family, Jackie Jr., dies at 54, Las Vegas Sun, November 12, 2002, accessed May 16, 2012.

[BertieObit-7] "Gaming family matriarch dies at 75", Las Vegas Sun, November 5, 1996, accessed May 16, 2012.

[8] "Brendan Gaughan to make 4 final Cup starts in 2020 - NBC Sports". 27 January 2020.

[JackieGaughanDeath-9] Las Vegas casino pioneer Jackie Gaughan dies at 93, LVRJ, March 12, 2014, accessed March 12, 2014.

[JackieGaughanDeathOmaha-10] 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.

[JackieGaughanFuneral-11] Las Vegas says goodbye to Jackie Gaughan, reviewjournal.com; March 17, 2014; accessed March 18, 2014.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|American casino owner and businessman (1920–2014)}}
 {{Infobox person
 | name        = Jackie Gaughan
@@ Line 4: / Line 5: @@
 | alt         =
 | caption     =
-| birth_name  = John Davis Gaughan
 | birth_date  = {{Birth date|1920|10|24}}
 | birth_place = [[Hastings, Nebraska]], U.S.
 | death_date  ={{Death date and age|2014|3|12|1920|10|24}}
 | death_place = [[Las Vegas, Nevada]] U.S.
-| home_town = [[Omaha, Nebraska]], U.S.
-| nationality = American
 | alma_mater  = [[Creighton University]]
-| spouse = {{marriage|Roberta Mae Gaughan|1942|1996}}; her death; 2 sons
+| spouse = {{marriage|Roberta Mae Gaughan|1942|1996|end=died}}
 | children = {{Plainlist|
-* John Davis Gaughan, Jr. (aka Jackie Gaughan, Jr.; 1947-2002)
+* John Davis "Jackie" Gaughan, Jr. (1947–2002)
 * [[Michael Gaughan (businessman)|Michael Gaughan]]}}
 | known_for   = Casino owner}}
-'''John Davis Gaughan, Sr.'''<ref name="J. Gaughan Is Thanked">{{cite news|title=J. Gaughan Is Thanked|newspaper=The Omaha World-Herald Newspaper|date=March 17, 1983|page=29|quote=He is John Davis "Jackie" Gaughan and his town is Las Vegas.}}</ref> (October 24, 1920 – March 12, 2014), best known as '''Jackie Gaughan''' was a [[casino]] owner and operator from the early 1950s in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]]. He had an ownership stake in many casinos throughout his career, but he is best known for his ownership of the [[El Cortez (Las Vegas)|El Cortez]], where he resided until his death on March 12, 2014.<ref name=LVS050612>Eric Ryan, [http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/may/06/jackie-gaughan-el-cortez-integral-parts-downtown-v/ Jackie Gaughan, El Cortez integral parts of downtown Las Vegas’ rebirth], ''Las Vegas Sun'', May 6, 2012, accessed May 16, 2012.</ref> At one time Gaughan reportedly owned more than 25 percent of the available real estate in [[Downtown Las Vegas]].<ref name=LVS032504>[http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2004/mar/25/gaughan-changeover-leaves-workers-a-little-melanch Gaughan changeover leaves workers a little melancholy], ''Las Vegas Sun'', March 25, 2004; accessed May 16,  2012.</ref>
+'''John Davis Gaughan, Sr.'''<ref name="J. Gaughan Is Thanked">{{cite news|title=J. Gaughan Is Thanked|newspaper=The Omaha World-Herald Newspaper|date=March 17, 1983|page=29|quote=He is John Davis "Jackie" Gaughan and his town is Las Vegas.}}</ref> (October 24, 1920 – March 12, 2014) was a [[casino]] owner and operator from the early 1950s in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]]. He had an ownership stake in many casinos throughout his career, but he is best known for his ownership of the [[El Cortez (Las Vegas)|El Cortez]], where he resided until his death on March 12, 2014.<ref name=LVS050612>Eric Ryan, [http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/may/06/jackie-gaughan-el-cortez-integral-parts-downtown-v/ Jackie Gaughan, El Cortez integral parts of downtown Las Vegas' rebirth], ''Las Vegas Sun'', May 6, 2012, accessed May 16, 2012.</ref> At one time Gaughan reportedly owned more than 25 percent of the available real estate in [[Downtown Las Vegas]].<ref name=LVS032504>[http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2004/mar/25/gaughan-changeover-leaves-workers-a-little-melanch Gaughan changeover leaves workers a little melancholy], ''Las Vegas Sun'', March 25, 2004; accessed May 16,  2012.</ref>
 ==Biography==
 Gaughan grew up in [[Omaha, Nebraska]]. He served in [[World War II]] and earned a degree from [[Creighton University]].<ref name=LVRJ102509>John L. Smith, [http://www.lvrj.com/news/last-king-of-downtown-jackie-gaughan-made-money-plenty-of-friends-65931447.html Last king of downtown, Jackie Gaughan made money, plenty of friends], ''Las Vegas Review-Journal'', October 25, 2009, accessed May 16, 2012.</ref> During his time in the military he served at [[Las Vegas Air Force Base]] (now Nellis AFB), giving him his first exposure to the city.<ref name=LVRJ010312>Lisa Carter, [http://www.lvrj.com/view/jackie-gaughan-plaza-named-for-legendary-gaming-industry-pioneer-136575158.html Jackie Gaughan Plaza named for legendary gaming industry pioneer], ''Las Vegas Review-Journal'', January 3, 2012; accessed May 16, 2012.</ref>
-He began his career in the gambling industry in Omaha, working as a legal [[bookmaker]] at [[horse racing]] tracks around Omaha. He relocated to Las Vegas in 1950 after passage of a 10 percent tax on the legal bookmaking parlors crippled the industry in Nebraska.<ref name=Kid1obit>[http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2002/nov/12/member-of-gaughan-gaming-family-jackie-jr-dies-at- Member of Gaughan gaming family, Jackie Jr., dies at 54], ''Las Vegas Sun'', November 12, 2002, accessed May 16,   2012.</ref> Upon arriving in Las Vegas, he bought a stake in the [[Flamingo Las Vegas|Flamingo]].<ref name=Kid1obit/> He quit his job at the hotel after mobster [[David Berman (mobster)|Davie Berman]] called him a "dime-a-dozen punk" for asking a favor of the [[maître d’]], although he retained three percent ownership of the property.<ref name=LVS050612/> Gaughan later bought a 3% stake in the Boulder Club.
+He began his career in the gambling industry in Omaha, working as a legal [[bookmaker]] at [[horse racing]] tracks around Omaha. He relocated to Las Vegas in 1950 after passage of a 10 percent tax on the legal bookmaking parlors crippled the industry in Nebraska.<ref name=Kid1obit>[http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2002/nov/12/member-of-gaughan-gaming-family-jackie-jr-dies-at- Member of Gaughan gaming family, Jackie Jr., dies at 54], ''Las Vegas Sun'', November 12, 2002, accessed May 16,   2012.</ref> Upon arriving in Las Vegas, he bought a stake in the [[Flamingo Las Vegas|Flamingo]].<ref name=Kid1obit/> He quit his job at the hotel after mobster [[David Berman (mobster)|Davie Berman]] called him a "dime-a-dozen punk" for asking a favor of the [[maître d']], although he retained three percent ownership of the property.<ref name=LVS050612/> Gaughan later bought a 3% stake in the Boulder Club.
 He purchased the [[Las Vegas Club]] in 1961, opened [[The Western]] with business partner Mel Exber in 1970, and purchased what became the [[Gold Spike Hotel and Casino|Gold Spike]] in 1983. He was a partner, alongside [[Sam Boyd]] and [[Howard Cannon]], in the opening of the [[Plaza Hotel & Casino|Union Plaza]] in 1971, which was renamed Jackie Gaughan's Plaza in the 1990s, and additionally invested in the [[Golden Nugget Las Vegas|Golden Nugget]], the [[Clarion Hotel and Casino|Royal Inn]] and the [[Castaways Hotel and Casino|Showboat]].<ref name=LVRJ010312/>
-Gaughan bought the El Cortez from John Kell "J. Kell" Houssels, Sr. in 1963.<ref name=LVS050612/> Houssels has 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.<ref name=LVS050612/>
+Gaughan bought the El Cortez from John Kell "J. Kell" Houssels, Sr. in 1963.<ref name=LVS050612/> 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.<ref name=LVS050612/>
 Gaughan owned a stake in the Golden Nugget when [[Steve Wynn]] took over the downtown property in 1973.<ref name=LVS032504/> He mentored Steve Wynn as he learned the Vegas casino industry.<ref name=LVRJ102509/> While casino investment and development began to shift towards [[Las Vegas Strip|The Strip]] and off-Strip, Gaughan kept his capital invested in [[Downtown Las Vegas|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 Corporation|Barrick Gaming]] for $82 million.<ref name=LVS032504/>
 ==Family==
-Gaughan and his wife, Roberta Mae (1921 &ndash; 1996), were married for 54 years (until her death in 1996); the couple had two sons, John and Michael.<ref name=BertieObit>[http://m.lasvegassun.com/news/1996/nov/05/gaming-family-matriarch-dies-at-75 "Gaming family matriarch dies at 75"], ''Las Vegas Sun'', November 5, 1996, accessed May 16,   2012.</ref> John F. "Jackie Jr." Gaughan (November 24, 1947 &ndash; November 10, 2002) had minor ownership interests in the El Cortez and [[The Gold Spike]]. He died in his sleep at age 54.<ref name=Kid1obit/> [[Michael Gaughan (businessman)|Michael Gaughan]] took over many of the day-to-day operations of his father's casinos over the years. Michael Gaughan owns the [[South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa]] as well as the rights to operate the slot concession at [[McCarran International Airport]].<ref name=LVRJ010312/>
+Gaughan and his wife, Roberta Mae (1921&ndash;1996), were married for 54 years, until her death in 1996. The couple had two sons, John and Michael.<ref name=BertieObit>[http://m.lasvegassun.com/news/1996/nov/05/gaming-family-matriarch-dies-at-75 "Gaming family matriarch dies at 75"], ''Las Vegas Sun'', November 5, 1996, accessed May 16, 2012.</ref> John F. "Jackie Jr." Gaughan (November 24, 1947 &ndash; November 10, 2002) had minor ownership interests in the El Cortez and [[The Gold Spike]]. He died in his sleep at age 54.<ref name=Kid1obit/> [[Michael Gaughan (businessman)|Michael Gaughan]] took over many of the day-to-day operations of his father's casinos over the years. Michael Gaughan owns the [[South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa]] as well as the rights to operate the slot concession at [[McCarran International Airport]].<ref name=LVRJ010312/> Gaughan's grandson, [[Brendan Gaughan|Brendan]], is a [[NASCAR]] driver.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2020/01/27/brendan-gaughan-to-run-four-final-cup-races-in-2020-including-daytona-500/|title=Brendan Gaughan to make 4 final Cup starts in 2020 - NBC Sports|date=27 January 2020}}</ref>
 ==Death==
-Gaughan died on March 12, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 93 years old.<ref name=JackieGaughanDeath>[http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas-casino-pioneer-jackie-gaughan-dies-93 Las Vegas casino pioneer Jackie Gaughan dies at 93], ''LVRJ'', March 12, 2014, accessed March 12, 2014.</ref><ref name=JackieGaughanDeathOmaha>[http://www.omaha.com/article/20140312/NEWS/140319516/1685#omaha-native-vegas-casino-pioneer-jackie-gaughan-dies-at-93 Omaha native, Vegas casino pioneer Jackie Gaughan dies at 93], ''Omaha.com'', March 12, 2014, accessed March 12, 2014.</ref> His funeral Mass was held on March 17, 2014 at St. Viator Catholic Church, [[Paradise, Nevada]].<ref name=JackieGaughanFuneral>[http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/las-vegas-says-goodbye-jackie-gaughan Las Vegas says goodbye to Jackie Gaughan], reviewjournal.com; March 17, 2014; accessed March 18, 2014.</ref>
+Gaughan died on March 12, 2014, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 93.<ref name=JackieGaughanDeath>[http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas-casino-pioneer-jackie-gaughan-dies-93 Las Vegas casino pioneer Jackie Gaughan dies at 93], ''LVRJ'', March 12, 2014, accessed March 12, 2014.</ref><ref name=JackieGaughanDeathOmaha>[http://www.omaha.com/article/20140312/NEWS/140319516/1685#omaha-native-vegas-casino-pioneer-jackie-gaughan-dies-at-93 Omaha native, Vegas casino pioneer Jackie Gaughan dies at 93] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312220334/http://www.omaha.com/article/20140312/NEWS/140319516/1685#omaha-native-vegas-casino-pioneer-jackie-gaughan-dies-at-93 |date=2014-03-12 }}, ''Omaha.com'', March 12, 2014, accessed March 12, 2014.</ref> His funeral Mass was held on March 17, 2014, at St. Viator Catholic Church, [[Paradise, Nevada]].<ref name=JackieGaughanFuneral>[http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/las-vegas-says-goodbye-jackie-gaughan Las Vegas says goodbye to Jackie Gaughan], reviewjournal.com; March 17, 2014; accessed March 18, 2014.</ref>
 == References ==
-{{Reflist|33em}}
+{{Reflist}}
-{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
-| NAME              = Gaughan, Jackie
-| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Gaughan, Sr., John Davis
-| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American casino owner and businessman
-| DATE OF BIRTH     = October 24, 1920
-| PLACE OF BIRTH    = [[Hastings, Nebraska]], U.S.
-| DATE OF DEATH     = March 12, 2014
-| PLACE OF DEATH    = [[Las Vegas, Nevada]] U.S.}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Gaughan, Jackie}}
-[[Category:People from the Las Vegas Valley]]
+[[Category:Businesspeople from the Las Vegas Valley]]
 [[Category:1920 births]]
 [[Category:2014 deaths]]
 [[Category:Businesspeople from Omaha, Nebraska]]
-[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
+[[Category:American casino industry businesspeople]]
-[[Category:Businesspeople in the casino industry]]
 [[Category:Creighton University alumni]]
-[[Category:Disease-related deaths in Nevada]]
+[[Category:Catholics from Nevada]]
-[[Category:American Roman Catholics]]
+[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
+[[Category:United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II]]