[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 169 (Friday, December 7, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12678-S12679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING WILBUR FAISS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, recent weeks, one of Nevada's leading 
families, the Faiss Family, has marked important milestones. The 
patriarch, Wilbur Faiss, observed his 90th birthday and the matriarch, 
Theresa Faiss, observed her 86th birthday. In doing so, they and their 
children and grandchildren could reflect on 57 years of contributions 
to the growth and success of Nevada.
  Wilbur and Theresa Faiss and their three sons, Bob, Don, and Ron, 
arrived in North Las Vegas, NV, in 1944. North Las Vegas then was an 
unincorporated city. Wilbur opened a small business and devoted a great 
deal of his time to his community, including service as a volunteer 
firefighter.
  Wilbur became one of the first workers at the Nevada Test Site in the 
1950s. He later retired from work as a member of the Teamsters Union on 
the Las Vegas Strip.
  Upon retirement at the age of 65, when many of us might think of 
slowing down a bit, Wilbur answered the call of his constituents to 
become a Democratic candidate for the Nevada State Senate. He won that 
first effort for public office by one of the highest margins in the 
State.
  Wilbur served two distinguished terms in the Nevada Senate, giving 
priority to the areas of working men and women, senior citizens, 
education, civil rights, and protection of the environments.
  Theresa's achievements were recognized in 1996, when she was selected 
as Clark County's Pioneer Mother of the Year. Of Theresa it was written 
that she ``has not won any public honors or held any office, but she 
held her family together through adversity and provided her sons a 
model of caring, support, hard work, sacrifice, commitment, integrity 
and compassion.''
  Their sons have followed the example of their parents.
  Bob Faiss is a senior member of Nevada's largest law firm, Lionel 
Sawyer & Collins. Prior to joining his firm, Bob served as Executive 
Assistant to Governor Grant Sawyer of Nevada and staff assistant to 
President Lyndon B. Johnson in the White House. The National Law 
Journal in 1997 named him one of ``The 100 Most Influential Lawyers in 
America.''
  Don Faiss recently retired as an executive of Bally's Resort in Las 
Vegas, formerly the MGM Grand Hotel. Among his public contributions was 
service as a member of the Clark County School Board.
  Ron Faiss recently retired as General Manager of the Horseshoe Hotel/
Casino in Las Vegas, after 30 years of involvement in the spectacular 
growth of the Nevada gaming industry.
  The Faiss grandchildren are also making their ways as responsible and 
productive citizens, as follows: Mitch Faiss is the co-founder of a 
leading electrical contracting company in Gardnerville, NV; Michael 
Faiss, after

[[Page S12679]]

many years as manager for a chain of restaurants, has joined his 
brother Mitch in the electrical contracting business; Philip Faiss is a 
member of the staff of a major museum in Southern California; Marceline 
Faiss Ayres is an educator in Northampton, MA; and Justin Chambers is a 
member of the news staff of KTNV--Channel 13 in Las Vegas.
  Wilbur and Theresa Faiss are in good health and continue to be 
active. It is fitting to wish them happy birthdays and a happy, 
rewarding and secure future.
  Mr. President, Nevada is a much better place because of the Faiss 
family.

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