Tuesday, April 29, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Las Vegas loses keeper of the past

Frank Wright will be remembered as champion for saving city's history

Though Frank Wright was born in Salt Lake City, "he used to fantasize of being a Las Vegas native, he grew to love it so much," his wife, Dorothy, said. Frank Wright died Friday. REVIEW-JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

Frank Wright loved Las Vegas so much he fantasized about being a native, family members said Monday.

He was passionate about learning every detail of the city's past, preserving its history, sharing the tales of triumph and tribulation, and debunking some of the myths that grew from the mafia's involvement in shaping the city.

Wright, who recently retired from his longtime research post at the Nevada Museum & Historical Society, died of cancer Friday. He was 64.

Wright was the best sort of local historian: knowledgeable about the past, interested in exploring and able to communicate his enthusiasm to the public. He remained available even in retirement for people with history queries. He fielded the gamut of queries, from politicians and scholars to schoolchildren and budding novelists.

The Review-Journal in 2002 named him the newspaper's favorite male Las Vegan in its Best of Las Vegas staff poll.

"Frank was a crusader for knowing and saving our past," said Michael Green, a professor of history at the Community College of Southern Nevada. "He became the person members of the media called to check on anything about Las Vegas history. For more than a decade, if you tuned in to KNPR radio, you'd hear vignettes of Las Vegas history that he wrote. He was interviewed for hundreds of documentaries and news stories."

Even though Wright was born in Salt Lake City, his wife, Dorothy, said "he used to fantasize of being a Las Vegas native, he grew to love it so much."

Wright lived in Las Vegas about 35 years, and in that time he became a champion of preservation and a great keeper of the town's history. He wrote units on local history for schoolchildren, pamphlets for the museum and sat on a number of historical and preservation boards and commissions, including the board of directors for the Neon Museum downtown and the Las Vegas Springs Preserve.

"What bothered Frank was that so many people thought there was nothing here before Bugsy Siegel," Green said. "There was a lot here before Bugsy and the Flamingo. Bugsy did not even start the Flamingo, Bill Wilkerson did."

Wilkerson, a Hollywood nightclub owner, was the one who first envisioned the Flamingo hotel and casino, but by the mid-1940s, it was still unfinished.

Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, with close ties to the mob and the money it generated in New York, Chicago and Miami Beach, bankrolled the construction of the Flamingo with $1.5 million. But in the time following World War II, construction materials were scarce and theft on the construction site was rampant. The Flamingo ultimately cost $6 million, an incredible expense for the time.

Wright constantly wanted to tell the untold story of the gambling houses and shady characters that were here as early as the 1930s.

Green said Wright had an easy manner about him, which helped him in his search for the truth behind the myths of this fast-changing city.

"There were a number of people who didn't want to talk because they dealt with shady characters," Green said. "Frank could get people to open up to him."

David Millman, curator at the state Museum and Historical Society, said what struck him most about Wright was his willingness to answer people's questions, "no matter how obscure."

"He would thoroughly research people's connection to the town or family history," Millman said. "I don't think I ever saw him lose his temper in 20 years. He wanted to get to the truth of Las Vegas history, warts and all. He wanted it to be accurate, not a myth or misconception. He paid a lot of attention to the small things of history, getting names and addresses right. A lot of people were grateful for that."

Wright is survived by his wife, step-son Christopher Ritenour of Las Vegas, brother Robert Wright of Salt Lake City and four grandchildren.

Services will be private.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Neon Museum, 821 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Las Vegas, NV 89101.