STATESIDE Our only interaction followed Hurricane Katrina’s Mississippi
Gulf Coast destruction in late 2005. I reported on the aftermath, six years after my 1999 visit revealed a growing, thriving region. MGM’s Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi sustained huge
damage. Its 20-foot protective walls failed against the 30-foot Gulf surge. Flooding destroyed the first level and strong winds blew out the windows of the high-rise property. I called Terry to learn the fate of the Beau Rivage. His
quick return call and message struck me. He identified himself-like I wouldn’t know him- and requested a return call like a “regular” person. A true gentleman, Terry treated me with professional respect
and we had a wonderful chat. He described his initial relief at what he thought was Beau Rivage’s survival from afar on the highway. His joy soon turned to horror when a closer look revealed severe damage. Terry committed MGM’s resources to reopening in one year and it did. I returned in 2011 to report on the Gulf Coast’s breathtaking
rebuilding efforts after six years. The rejuvenated region had wisely improved on its earlier infrastructure. The Beau Rivage maintained its magnificence. Terry did it right. Also, the late Sheldon Adelson almost singlehandedly changed
How things and attitudes change. Although the photo of two competing football teams on that story’s first page was okay, couldn’t my Philadelphia Eagles have been one of them? Ha ha… only kidding, Matt. The layout looked great. Three decades at any job should motivate a career analysis. I
watched my father, who lucked out because he loved his work from his first pinball installation in 1940 to opening his first Philadelphia arcade in 1946 to operating until his 1991 retirement. Over 30 years, I too have enjoyed new challenges, writing
stories, experiencing events and meeting great people. Few really ever leave gaming, even if they join peripheral organizations that work with gaming. What I have seen from the thousands of interesting, wonderful people I have met and interviewed could fill a book. Maybe someday I will get to that. To name a few, leaders like Penn National’s Tim Wilmott,
Harrah’s Phil Satre and Gary Loveman, or first American Gaming Association (AGA) CEO/President Frank Fahrenkopf Jr. retired or accepted other professional challenges. Frank was among my first important interviews after his 1995
hiring. He proved pivotal to my enduring perspective on U.S. gaming. Frank’s fascinating personal story matched his professional career rise. Over his 18-year tenure (1995-2013) and multiple interviews later, I discovered how little I knew and how much I learned from him. Sadly, too many others passed on long before they finished
contributing to the industry. Gaming icon Terry Lanni’s July 2011 death at 68 impacted all since he was among gaming’s most influential and respected figures for decades. Terry accomplished much while a Caesars World, Inc. senior
executive from 1977-1995. His real prominence and unequalled successes began in 1995 as MGM Grand, Inc. President/CEO/Director. Thanks to its Mirage Resorts and Mandalay Resort Group
acquisitions, MGM Mirage became Nevada’s largest employer while also operating a multistate portfolio of properties. Still not finished, Terry’s extraordinary vision included Las
Vegas’s mixed-use CityCenter concept (now Aria Campus) in the mid-2000s.
10 OCTOBER 2023
Las Vegas by transforming it from a weekend destination to a year-round global convention stop. By purchasing the Sands and converting its land to the Sands Expo Center, Venetian and Palazzo, Adelson attracted billions in investments. Nothing stays static and loss is a given. In August, New Jersey
gaming fixture Phil Juliano passed away. Phil symbolized how gaming’s early years opened opportunities to average people. The former school teacher/coach entered Atlantic City gaming
in its infancy by asking a casino executive for a job as a host. Phil rose to senior executive positions at multiple Atlantic City, Chicago and Rhode Island companies. Because his heart always belonged to his hometown, Phil’s
final stop was at Bally’s in Atlantic City. I can’t ever remember an Atlantic City conference without Phil on a panel. The Gaming Hall of Fame includes phenomenal living and
deceased individuals, whose visionary leadership created the multibillion-dollar industry of today. I hope future generations can expand the mantle of excellence they have received. I don’t expect to ever be a household name. However, when I
ultimately retire, I hope for some smiles and fond memories if my name is mentioned. That would be oh so nice.
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