William F. Harrah

William Fisk Harrah
Born	Template:Birth date South Pasadena, California, U.S.
Died	June 30, 1978(1978-06-30) (aged 66)
Occupation	Entrepreneur
Known for	Founder of Harrah's Hotel and Casinos

William Fisk Harrah (September 2, 1911 – June 30, 1978) was an American entrepreneur and the creator of Harrah's Hotel and Casinos, which is currently owned by Caesars Entertainment.

Early life and education

Born in South Pasadena, California, Harrah was the son of John Harrah, who was both a lawyer and a political figure.

He pursued mechanical engineering studies at UCLA and participated in the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. However, due to the economic hardships caused by the Great Depression, he left college and became involved in family-run ventures such as a pool hall, hot dog stand, shooting gallery, and a bingo-like game known as the "Circle" or "Reno Game."

Entry into gaming

While bingo was prohibited in California, games that required skill like the Reno Game were legally allowed. This game involved rolling a ball to determine card suits and numbers, with players aiming to match sequences of four cards to win. The house employed shills to keep games active—a tactic defended by John Harrah despite complaints from participants.

The Reno Game was subject to frequent closures by officials, but John Harrah consistently obtained new permits. At twenty years old, Bill Harrah purchased this operation from his father for $500, removed the shills, and grew the business from generating $100 weekly to $25,000 annually within three years. To overcome political challenges and pursue expansion, he launched his first establishment in Reno on October 29, 1937—Harrah's Club Bingo—situated near other prominent gaming locations.

Expansion of enterprise

Harrah’s first attempt with the Tango bingo parlor was short-lived, closing by November 15th. In July 1938, he opened Harrah's Plaza Tango with financial support from Virgil Smith. Subsequently, he relocated to 242 North Virginia Street close to Harolds Club, renaming it Ed Howe's Tango Club. After gaining acceptance into Reno’s gaming circles through Cal Custer’s assistance, Harrah purchased the Tango Club for $3,000—significantly less than the initial $25,000 asking price. He continued to enlarge his Virginia Street casino over time, including adding a hotel tower in 1969.

In 1955, Harrah extended his operations to Lake Tahoe by acquiring George's Gateway Club. His properties there included the Lake Club on the lakeside of Highway 50 and Harrah's Tahoe on the mountain side at the former Stateline Country Club location; a hotel tower was introduced in 1973. Additionally, he owned Zephyr Cove restaurant which featured slot machines and blackjack tables.

Harrah entered the Las Vegas market in 1973 by purchasing the Holiday Casino on the Strip from Shelby and Claudine Williams. This property was strategically located near Sands Casino and directly across from where the Mirage would later be built.

Legacy

Harrah was instrumental in shaping Nevada’s gaming regulatory system by aiding in the establishment of the Nevada Gaming Control Board in 1955 and reinforcing it with the creation of the Nevada Gaming Commission in 1959 to address casino-related corruption.

Renowned for fostering strong bonds with both patrons and staff members, Harrah’s Reno theater—originally called the Headliner Room—was renamed Sammy's Showroom in honor of entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., whose replica Duesenberg is exhibited in Harrah’s dedicated museum. Comedian and actor Bill Cosby also recognized Harrah as a close friend.

Personal life

Harrah entered into matrimony seven times with six different women, including a short-lived 1969 union with singer-songwriter Bobbie Gentry. Their relationship served as the inspiration for Gentry's track "Fancy," which portrays a "kind-hearted man" (Harrah) aiding a destitute woman from the South.

With Scherry, whom he married on two separate occasions, Harrah adopted two sons named John and Tony. He fathered one biological daughter, Jeanie Eiliene Sexton Harrah, born in 1956 to Marvel Tudor. His surviving spouse, Verna, was a film producer responsible for projects such as Anaconda.

Car collection

After his father's vehicle was stolen and dismantled, Harrah committed himself to acquiring an identical model of every car his family had owned.

His vast assortment featured rare automobiles including two Bugatti Type 41 models, the Phantom Corsair, two Ferrari vehicles, and a couple of Jerrari Wagoneers. Among these, his 1966 Bugatti Type 41 Coupe de Ville earned Best of Show honors at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where he also secured victories in 1963, 1964, and 1976. Beyond automobiles, Harrah possessed a historic Ford Trimotor aircraft.

Upon Harrah’s passing, Holiday Corp—the parent company of Holiday Inn—purchased Harrah's enterprise along with its automobile collection. Between 1984 and 1986, the majority of these vehicles were auctioned off for more than $100 million. Due to strong interest from residents of Reno and Sparks, Holiday Inn donated 175 cars to establish the William F. Harrah Automobile Museum in downtown Reno. Additional automobiles contributed to forming the Imperial Palace Auto Collection in Las Vegas.

Death

Harrah passed away at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, at age 66 while undergoing cardiac surgery aimed at repairing an aortic aneurysm. His estate was valued at $138 million and was placed into trusts benefiting his wife Verna and their sons.

Legacy

The William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, founded in 1967, was renamed in his honor in 1989 after receiving a $5 million gift from his widow.

Harrah also utilized unlimited hydroplane racing as a marketing tool for his casinos. In 1962, he acquired the champion boat Maverick and rebranded it as Harrah's Tahoe Miss. By 1966, the third iteration of Tahoe Miss had achieved five victories including the APBA Gold Cup and national championship. In 1968, it was renamed Harrah's Club to further promote his casino brand.