Jackie Gaughan

John Davis Gaughan was born Oct. 24, 1920 in Omaha, Neb., and passed away quietly in his sleep March 12, 2014, at the age of 93. He was the second child and only son of Kitty and Michael Gaughan. He graduated Creighton Prep in 1938 and enrolled at Creighton University. In his senior year he married his wife, of 54 years, Roberta "Bertie" Brehm of Hastings, Neb. Before he finished school in 1942 he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps for World War II. He was stationed for almost four years in Nevada, at both the Tonopah and Nellis Air Bases, as a gunnery instructor. He received both the Good Conduct Medal and a Purple Heart during this period and was honorably discharged after the war in 1946. It was during this time he discovered Las Vegas, which was to become his home for 64 years. In returning to Omaha, he re-enrolled in Creighton and graduated with a bachelors' of science in commerce. Unfortunately, his father, a noted Omaha gambler, died shortly after his return. While in school, he supported his family as a bookmaker. His second son, John F. "Jackie Jr." was born in 1947. His first son, Michael, was born in 1943 during the war. In 1948, he purchased an interest in the Boulder Club in downtown Las Vegas. During the late 1940's, Omaha began cracking down on illegal gambling. Jackie's mother and gambler, Edward Barrick (husband of Marge Barrick of UNLV's Barrick Lecture Series) convinced him to move to Las Vegas where gambling was legal. In 1951, with borrowed money from his mother, he bought into the Flamingo Hotel along with Ed Barrick and Sam Ziegman (another Nebraska gambler). His brother-in-law, Al Abrams, was already an owner in the hotel, so began a 60-year love affair with Las Vegas. Jackie Gaughan was a true visionary and the last living "Founding Father" of Las Vegas. Beginning with the old Boulder Club, he owned and/or operated 11 more casinos in the downtown area - the Pioneer Club, Las Vegas Club, Golden Nugget, Showboat, Union Plaza, Sundance, Nevada Hotel, Club Bingo, Gold Spike, Western Bingo and his beloved El Cortez. Over the years, beside the Flamingo Hotel, he was also licensed for the Tahoe Biltmore, Mispah Hotel, Royal Inn Casino and Barbary Coast. In his lifetime, he was probably the most licensed individual in the history of Nevada. He was also licensed in New Jersey, Mississippi, and Louisiana, as well as Australia. Even after he sold his last hotel, the El Cortez, to Kenny Epstein and other hotel executives, he continued to live there until he died. He still walked the hotel floor every day meeting and talking to the customers and employees and playing poker. All his life Jackie Gaughan believed in hand shake deals and that a person's "word was his bond." Jackie was greatly involved in the community. He was an original member of the Las Vegas Varsity Club, which was one of the forerunners of the United Way. He was one of the founders of the Boys and Girls Club of Las Vegas. He was man of the year for B'nai B'rith, National Jewish Hospital and the Boy Scouts just to name a few. He was Creighton University's Business School Businessman of the Year. His son, Michael, also received this award years later making them the only father/son team to be honored in Creighton's 110 year history. Jackie was Bishop Gorman's first "Knight of the Gael" recipient. He was one of the major donors' in building the school in 1954. Both his sons, all of his grandchildren and one daughter-in-law attended Gorman. Today he has a great-granddaughter in the school with a second one starting this fall. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bertie; and his son, Jackie Jr. He survived by his sister, Rosemary Daly of Omaha; his son, Michael, and daughter-in-law, Paula; seven grandchildren, with four daughters-in-law and one son-in-law; eight great-grandchildren; and two nephews, Leo Daly of Washington, D.C., and Alan Abrams of Las Vegas. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Sunday, March 16, followed by a brief scripture reading, both at Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. The funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Monday, March 17, at St. Viator's Church, 2461 E. Flamingo Road. Burial will be in Omaha. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bishop Gorman High School, 5959 Hualapai Way, Las Vegas, NV 89148.