20
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, December 5, 1968
Las Vegas billionaire boosts Nevada's economy
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (UPI) — Howard Hughes, the enigmatic billionaire, took up permanent residence here just two years ago and set in motion a course of events unparalleled in Nevada's 104-year history.
In those two years, he has become the largest single employer in Nevada.
Although Hughes has never been seen by the general public here, the impact of his presence has been felt throughout the community and the state.
All top Hughes aides like Robert Maheu, his Nevada operations chief executive; John Meier, scientific advisor, and Maj. Gen. Edward Nigro, who heads the Sands Hotel, are vital forces in local charities and cultural movements.
Air West
In addition to the vast holdings Howard Hughes has acquired since his arrival two years ago, he recently made a bid of more than $30 million to buy Air West.
Air West has been under fire from passengers, local and national public officials throughout its 9,000-mile route because of flight cancellations, delays and reservation problems.
Hughes, since his move to Las Vegas, has purchased the Desert Inn, Sands, Frontier, Silver Slipper, Castaways, Landmark Tower, KLAS-TV, thousands of acres of raw land, the North Las Vegas Air Terminal and a charter and private plane installation near McCarran International known as Hughes Air Terminal.
In addition he purchased the famed Krupp Ranch west of the city for a price said to be in excess of $1.5-million.
His total investment in southern Nevada has been estimated at some $175-million. His total land holdings in Clark County are thought to be in excess of 40,000 acres. The city of Las Vegas encompasses only 32,293 acres, or 51.5 square miles.
Total investment
Maheu, chief executive of the Hughes Nevada operations, recently said the raw land buying spree is over, but added he did not mean to indicate "additional expenditure in improvements on the land" will not be forthcoming.
"We hope that we can have some manufacturing here, too," Maheu said, giving strength to the supposition that the Hughes investments would eventually prove a shot in the arm to that area of Nevada's economy.
With his acquisition of the Landmark Tower, an as-yet-unopened hotel and casino, and the
more than 1,000 employees who will be required to run it, Hughes becomes the largest single employer in the state of Nevada.
with more than 5,500 employees picking up pay checks from the Hughes Tool Co.
This places him ahead of the
state of Nevada, with 5,079 and both Del Webb and Bill Harrah, whose casinos and hotels in Reno, Lake Taheo and Las Vegas employ roughly 4,000.
COME IN and see our DISTINCTIVE ASSORTMENT of CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS
- turtleneck sweaters from $10
- PJ's and gowns from $7
- frilly blouses from $6.50
bra and pantie sets from $6.25
Open till 8:30 from Dec.12 till Christmas