Ron Lurie, former Mayor of Las Vegas and current owner of Ron’s Steakhouse inside Arizona Charlie’s, Monday, Oct. 15, 2012.
Published Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020 | 12:25 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020 | 3:45 p.m.
Ron Lurie only served a single term as Las Vegas mayor, but combined with 12 years on the City Council, his many achievements are still evident today.
Lurie, who was first elected to the council in 1973 and was mayor from 1987 to 1991, left his mark on city parks, museums and the public transit system.
He died this week at age 79.
Lurie helped persuade the Union Pacific railroad to clear its train yards on 61 acres behind the Plaza, which was later developed into the downtown’s premiere destination, Symphony Park.
He is also credited with helping bring the Citizens Area Transit bus system to reality, as well as championing the development of the Lied Discovery Museum.
His tenure as mayor also came amidst the city’s largest population boom.
Councilman Cedric Crear tweeted his condolences: “Sad to hear of the passing of former LV Councilman & Mayor Ron Lurie I am blessed to have spent quality time w him over the years He had classic Vegas Stories! & was a big supporter & mentor to me as I entered city government, for which, I will be forever grateful #RonLurie.”
Beyond his political career, Lurie worked as the executive vice president and general manager of Arizona Charlie’s Decatur. His Ron’s Steakhouse is inside the property.
In a statement, Golden Entertainment, operators of Arizona Charlie’s, said, “Ron made an indelible mark on Las Vegas through his work as a leader in the gaming industry, as a philanthropist, and as the former Mayor of Las Vegas. Through his work as a civil servant, in his gaming career and in his daily life, Ron was a champion for our community and was committed to making Las Vegas a better place for future generations. ... This is a tremendous loss for Las Vegas and our hearts and condolences are with his family.”
A city native and graduate of Las Vegas High School, Lurie was vice president from of Wonder World Liquors on Maryland Parkway from 1966 to 1978.
His father, Arthur Lurie, co-owned the business and served on the Nevada Boxing Commission under four governors.
“To this day, I still think of myself as Art’s son,” Ron Lurie said in a 1996 story in the Sun. “To many people in this town, my dad will always be ‘Discount Art,’ the man who gave everyone who came into his store a bargain. I was real proud of him when he acquired his store in Wonder World. His motto was to stack it high, sell it cheap and sleep in the street.”
Ron Lurie’s campaign signs as he was breaking into politics simply said ‘Lurie.’
“After he won the election, people came into the store and congratulated me,” his father told the Sun. “They thought they had voted for me and that I had won.”
Ron Lurie broke into the gaming industry as a sales executive with International Game Technology, a pioneer in video poker machines.
He was preceded into death by his wife, Beverly. He is survived by children Benjamin of Las Vegas and Ronda of Arizona.
