Editorial: Mack helped shape Las Vegas' success

Jerome "Jerry" Mack was a true visionary who played a major role in making Las Vegas the thriving resort destination it is today.

It was Mack who took financial risks to lend money to casinos in Las Vegas' early days.

It was Mack who, in the 1950s, worked to establish Nevada Southern College, which became UNLV.

It was Mack who was a leader in the community, serving on boards or as an officer with many organizations.

His death Saturday was a loss to Las Vegas that will be felt by many. Even up to the end of his battle with cancer, his thoughts were on the future of Las Vegas. That was typical of Jerry Mack: he always looked ahead and moved forward.

His accomplishments were many: He funded, along with E. Parry Thomas, the Thomas & Mack arena at UNLV; he served on the committee that established the UNLV Board of Trustees; he founded the Bank of Las Vegas, which he merged with Thomas' Valley Bank of Reno to form Valley Bank; he was past president of Temple Beth Sholom and was a founder and past director of the Boys Club of Nevada.

He has been called a financial wizard and a force in Nevada politics. But he will be remembered most for his efforts and leadership in making Las Vegas the great community it is today.

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