Background
Clark, Wilbur was born on December 27, 1908 in Keyesport, Illinois, United States. Son of Shirley Thomas and Lulu Esther (Welch) Clark.
Clark, Wilbur was born on December 27, 1908 in Keyesport, Illinois, United States. Son of Shirley Thomas and Lulu Esther (Welch) Clark.
Student in public schools, Keyesport.
He moved to San Diego, California at the age of nineteen, where he worked in a hotel. He also working on gambling ships, where gambling could take place in international waters. He purchased El Rancho Vegas in 1944.
A year later, in 1945, he purchased Monte Carlo Club.
In 1946, he sold El Rancho Vegas. With that money, he built the Desert Inn casino in 1947.
However, he quickly sold most of his interest to businessman Moe Dalitz, owning only 17.5%. He remained the public face of the Desert Inn.
In the 1950s, he organized the Tournament of Champions, an annual golf tournament at the Desert Inn Golf Course shown on televised by National Broadcasting Company. He sold his share in 1964.
Later, he developed Wilbur Clark’s Paradise Gardens, located at 4505 South Maryland Parkway, south of the Thomas & Mack Center. He also donated the land on which Guardian Angel Cathedral was built. Personal life
She became a philanthropist and fashion icon, supporting the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra and Nevada Ballet Theatre and being named on the 10 Best Dressed Women in America list by the Fashion Foundation of America in 1958.
She died in 2006.
Death
He died of a heart attack on August 27, 1965. The Wilbur Clark Doctorate.I. Road in Las Vegas, Nevada is named in his honor. lieutenant was previously known as the Desert Inn Road.
Member Las Vegas Opera Association. Mason (Shriner, 32°), Elk. Club: Variety.
Married Toni Galianese, August 2, 1944.