Jerome D. Mack
Jerome D. Mack | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jerome D. Mack 6 November 1920 Albion, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | 26 September 1998 (aged 77) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Jerry Mack |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, real estate investor, political fundraiser, philanthropist |
| Years active | 1954–1998 |
| Known for | Establishing and presiding over Bank of Las Vegas; leading Valley Bank; president of Riviera casino; founding University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) |
Jerome D. Mack, also known as Jerry Mack (November 6, 1920 – September 26, 1998), was a prominent American figure in banking, real estate investment, political fundraising, and philanthropy based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He established and presided over the Bank of Las Vegas before leading the Valley Bank. Additionally, Mack held leadership positions as president of the Riviera casino and as a board member for the Four Queens and Dunes casinos. A significant contributor to the Nevada Democratic Party, he was deeply involved in Jewish charitable initiatives both locally in Las Vegas and internationally in Israel. Mack was also instrumental in founding the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
Early life
Jerome Mack was born on November 6, 1920, in Albion, Michigan, relocating with his family to Las Vegas in 1929. His father, Nate Mack, transitioned from a haberdashery business to banking. Jerome completed his studies at Las Vegas High School in 1938 and pursued higher education at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he became a member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. During World War II, he served as a navigator within the Army Air Corps.
Career
Mack’s banking journey commenced in 1954 at the Bank of Las Vegas alongside his father. Founded that same year by Nate Mack with partners including Walter E. Cosgriff and Herb Jones, this institution was pioneering in providing loans to Las Vegas casinos; its first loan enabled Milton Prell to establish the Sahara Casino. In 1969, under Jerome Mack’s guidance, the bank merged with Reno’s Valley Bank—founded by E. Parry Thomas—forming Valley Bank of Nevada. This entity was eventually purchased by Bank of America for roughly US$380.5 million in 1992.
His professional endeavors extended beyond banking into executive roles such as vice president at Continental Connector Corporation, vice chairman at United Tanker Group, and president of First Bancorporation (later Nevada National Bank), which eventually merged with Wells Fargo. Mack also contributed his expertise as a board member for Pioneer Title and Insurance Corporation and served two terms on the board of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.
Within the gaming and real estate sectors, Mack held the presidency of the Riviera Casino and directorships at both Four Queens and Dunes casinos. In 1991, he spearheaded development of the McCarran Center near McCarran International Airport, a multi-use complex comprising office spaces, a hotel, and dining establishments.
Politics
During the 1960s, Mack took on the role of finance chair for the Nevada Democratic Party and subsequently participated on both the Democratic National Finance Council and the Democratic Party National Committee. From 1958 through 1980, he acted as state coordinator and treasurer for Senator Howard Cannon. He managed Nevada’s fundraising efforts for Lyndon Johnson’s presidential campaign in 1964 and coordinated state activities for Hubert Humphrey’s campaign in 1968.
In 1972, Governor Mike O'Callaghan appointed Mack to the Nevada Tax Commission, where he advanced to chairman by 1975. Later, President Jimmy Carter selected him for the nominating commission responsible for U.S. Circuit Judges appointments to the 9th Circuit Court.
Together with E. Parry Thomas, Mack advocated before influential state lawmakers and governors to legalize corporate ownership of casinos—a reform that enhanced regulatory oversight and transparency through the involvement of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, thereby curbing corruption within Las Vegas.
Philanthropy
During the 1950s, Mack played a pivotal role in founding Nevada Southern College alongside Maude Frazier and Archie Grant, an institution that later became known as the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He participated in selecting the university's inaugural board of trustees. In 1967, together with his business associate E. Parry Thomas, Mack donated 400 acres to facilitate the campus expansion and financed the construction of the Thomas & Mack Center basketball arena, which was named to honor their contributions. Additionally, both the Thomas & Mack Legal Clinic and Moot Court Building carry their names. Mack led fundraising efforts for Artemus Ham Hall at UNLV and was inducted into the Lee Business School Hall of Fame, receiving an honorary doctorate in 1983. Beyond UNLV, he contributed to UCLA by helping establish its first board of trustees and was an original member of its Chancellors Association.
Mack’s community involvement extended to serving on the Boulder Dam Council of the Boy Scouts of America, founding the Boys Club of Nevada, and chairing advanced gift campaigns for the United Way, which honored him with its Leadership Award in 1972.
He held the presidency of Temple Beth Sholom in Las Vegas, where he founded the Nate Mack Elementary School as a tribute to his father, and also led B'nai B'rith. His board memberships included the American Jewish Committee and United Jewish Appeal. Mack funded a cancer research professorship at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and chaired Israel Bonds drives from 1959 through 1976. He served as chairman of the United Jewish Appeal and was awarded Israel’s Prime Minister's Medal as well as the Silver Anniversary Award in 1973. Furthermore, he was instrumental in establishing the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas.
Personal life
In 1946, Mack wed Joyce Rosenberg after meeting her at UCLA. The couple had three daughters: Barbara Mack Feller Levine (who married Norman Levine), Karen Mack (spouse of Russell Goldsmith, chairman and CEO of City National Bank), and Marilynn Mack.
Death
Mack passed away from cancer on September 26, 1998, in Los Angeles. His funeral services took place at Temple Emanuel in Beverly Hills.
In 2006, a middle school bearing his name was inaugurated in Las Vegas.