[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 1841]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING THE BOYD GAMING CORPORATION

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the 40th anniversary 
of the Boyd Gaming Corporation, a leader in today's gaming industry 
that is respected in Nevada and across the Nation.
  Boyd Gaming Corporation was founded in 1975, but the legacy of the 
company began in 1941, when Sam Boyd moved his family to Las Vegas, NV. 
Sam started his career as a table dealer and quickly gained experience 
by working his way across the Silver State through an array of jobs in 
the gaming industry. By 1952, he had saved enough money to purchase a 
small stake in the legendary Sahara Hotel and Casino. Sam's small stake 
in the Sahara eventually led to him becoming the general manager of the 
Mint, which was a hotel and casino in downtown Las Vegas.
  Sam's son, Bill, has been a force in gaming in Nevada and throughout 
the United States. Bill is an accomplished lawyer, and now, an 
accomplished businessman. I am happy to call him a friend. Bill first 
partnered with Sam and others in acquiring a stake in the Eldorado 
Casino, but it was not until New Year's Day 1975 that the father and 
son partnership became the Boyd Gaming Corporation. The corporation's 
first major project was the California Hotel and Casino in downtown Las 
Vegas, which quickly became a success.
  In 1979, Boyd Gaming opened ``Sam's Town'' on a 13 acre lot off 
Boulder Highway. The project carried the name of one of its founders, 
Sam Boyd, and for the first time, provided Las Vegas locals with a 
full-scale resort. While their California Hotel and Casino property was 
inspiring innovative marketing strategies, across town at the Sam's 
Town property, the corporation was providing an entirely new experience 
to local Nevadans.
  Since then, Boyd Gaming has grown into a large corporation with 22 
properties across the country, and enjoyed tremendous success. 
Throughout their history, Boyd Gaming has remained deeply rooted in its 
Nevadan history and has been guided by the principles of family and 
integrity first laid out by Sam Boyd. As an inductee in the Gaming Hall 
of Fame, Sam will always be remembered as one of the most influential 
businessmen and innovators in Las Vegas gaming history. I remember Sam 
not only for his entrepreneurship and business sense, but also as a 
friend who championed diversity among his employees, and would go out 
of his way to give back to the community.
  I am honored to congratulate Boyd Gaming Corporation on reaching this 
milestone and I wish the corporation, and the Boyd family the best on 
all future endeavors.

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