Frank Joseph Fertitta Jr. (October 30, 1938 – August 21, 2009)[1] was an American entrepreneur. He was the founder of Station Casinos, a gaming company based in Summerlin South, Nevada. The company started out as a locals casino operator on July 1, 1976, opening the Bingo Palace, which was later renamed Palace Station.[2]
Fertitta was born on October 30, 1938, in Beaumont, Texas, to Frank Joseph Fertitta and Johnny Myrtle Deady Josephine Grilliette. He graduated from Galveston's Kirwin High School in 1956 and married Victoria Broussard in 1958.[3] Fertitta arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada from Texas with his wife Victoria in 1960. Frank began his career in gaming as a bellman at the Tropicana while learning to become a dealer.
Over the next 16 years until 1976, he worked as a dealer, pit boss, baccarat manager and general manager at properties including the Stardust; Tropicana, Circus Circus, Sahara and the Fremont in downtown Las Vegas.
Fertitta felt there was a gap in the market for casinos that locals could visit and where casino workers could come after work and as a result, opened his first local casino, named "The Casino" in 1976. This 5,000-square-foot (460 m2) square gambling hall was attached to the Mini-Price Motor Inn and was a short drive from Las Vegas Boulevard.[4] "It was pretty much desert," son Lorenzo Fertitta told the Las Vegas Sun in 2005. "People thought he was crazy." However, today Station Casinos is one of the biggest local casino operators in Las Vegas.[5]
Fertitta Jr. died on August 21, 2009 of complications from heart surgery at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Grove, Los Angeles, California at the age of 70.[6] He was interred at the Palm Desert Memorial in Las Vegas, Nevada.
References
^. Casino Enterprise Management. August 24, 2009. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
^"Frank Fertitta Jr., founder of Station Casinos; at 70". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
^"Frank Fertitta Obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
^Stutz, Howard (August 22, 2009). "Station Casinos company chief Frank Fertitta Jr. dies at 70". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
^Benston, Liz (December 23, 2005). "Neighborhood Draw". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
^Manning, Mary (2009-08-21). "Frank Fertitta Jr., patriarch of Station Casinos, dies". lasvegassun.com – Las Vegas Sun Newspaper. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
frank, fertitta, frank, joseph, fertitta, october, 1938, august, 2009, american, entrepreneur, founder, station, casinos, gaming, company, based, summerlin, south, nevada, company, started, locals, casino, operator, july, 1976, opening, bingo, palace, which, l. Frank Joseph Fertitta Jr October 30 1938 August 21 2009 1 was an American entrepreneur He was the founder of Station Casinos a gaming company based in Summerlin South Nevada The company started out as a locals casino operator on July 1 1976 opening the Bingo Palace which was later renamed Palace Station 2 Frank Fertitta Jr BornFrank Joseph Fertitta Jr 1938 10 30 October 30 1938Beaumont Texas U S DiedAugust 21 2009 2009 08 21 aged 70 Los Angeles California U S Resting placePalm Desert Memorial Las Vegas Nevada U S OccupationEntrepreneurSpouseVictoria Broussard m 1958 wbr Children3 including Frank III and LorenzoBackground EditFertitta was born on October 30 1938 in Beaumont Texas to Frank Joseph Fertitta and Johnny Myrtle Deady Josephine Grilliette He graduated from Galveston s Kirwin High School in 1956 and married Victoria Broussard in 1958 3 Fertitta arrived in Las Vegas Nevada from Texas with his wife Victoria in 1960 Frank began his career in gaming as a bellman at the Tropicana while learning to become a dealer Over the next 16 years until 1976 he worked as a dealer pit boss baccarat manager and general manager at properties including the Stardust Tropicana Circus Circus Sahara and the Fremont in downtown Las Vegas Fertitta felt there was a gap in the market for casinos that locals could visit and where casino workers could come after work and as a result opened his first local casino named The Casino in 1976 This 5 000 square foot 460 m2 square gambling hall was attached to the Mini Price Motor Inn and was a short drive from Las Vegas Boulevard 4 It was pretty much desert son Lorenzo Fertitta told the Las Vegas Sun in 2005 People thought he was crazy However today Station Casinos is one of the biggest local casino operators in Las Vegas 5 Fertitta Jr died on August 21 2009 of complications from heart surgery at the Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Grove Los Angeles California at the age of 70 6 He was interred at the Palm Desert Memorial in Las Vegas Nevada References Edit Station Casinos Founder Frank Fertitta Jr Dies Casino Enterprise Management August 24 2009 Archived from the original on September 23 2015 Retrieved December 29 2011 Frank Fertitta Jr founder of Station Casinos at 70 The Boston Globe Archived from the original on July 17 2012 Retrieved December 29 2011 Frank Fertitta Obituary Legacy com Retrieved December 29 2011 Stutz Howard August 22 2009 Station Casinos company chief Frank Fertitta Jr dies at 70 Las Vegas Review Journal Retrieved December 29 2011 Benston Liz December 23 2005 Neighborhood Draw Las Vegas Sun Retrieved December 29 2011 Manning Mary 2009 08 21 Frank Fertitta Jr patriarch of Station Casinos dies lasvegassun com Las Vegas Sun Newspaper Retrieved 2021 02 11 External links EditFrank Fertitta Jr at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frank Fertitta Jr amp oldid 1120845769, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
