Sam Boyd; Las Vegas Philanthropist, Built Eight Casinos

Sam Boyd, 82, La Vegas philanthropist and gaming pioneer who began as a casino dealer and wound up building eight casinos. The football stadium of the University of Nevada at Las Vegas is named the Sam Boyd Silver Bowl in his honor because of his major contributions to the university. A native of Enid, Okla., Boyd began his gaming career in 1928 running bingo games on a gambling ship anchored off Long Beach. He later moved to Las Vegas and, with only $30 in his pocket, found a job dealing penny roulette at the Jackpot Club. Saving half his pay, in 1952 he invested $10,000 to become an owner-partner in the Sahara Hotel. With relatives, he formed the Boyd Group, which built Sam Boyd’s California Hotel and Casino in 1975. Among others, the company bought the Stardust and Fremont hotels in 1983. On Friday in Las Vegas.