Tuesday, March 25, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Housing builder Mark Tomlinson fought litigation

Las Vegas developer since 1989 dead at 56

Mark Tomlinson xecutive vice president of Pacific Properties and Development

Mark Tomlinson, executive vice president of Pacific Properties and Development in Las Vegas and immediate past president of the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association, died Sunday. He was 56.

Tomlinson had been hospitalized since March 10 following a choking incident at a local restaurant.

"He was a real loved guy around the state," said Steven Molasky, chairman and chief executive officer of Pacific Properties. "He took on issues that were important to him and to other developers."

Tomlinson was instrumental in the home building industry's efforts to curb runaway construction defect litigation, which has led to skyrocketing liability insurance premiums.

"We're very watchful of costs in doing business. We count yards of concrete in a slab, the number of studs in a house, the number of tile squares on a roof. But we let the trial lawyers run rampant in our community, unmonitored and not answering to anyone for their antics," Tomlinson said in December 2001 when he was installed as president of the homebuilders group.

He was a founding member of the Coalition for Fairness in Construction, a group of trade contractors and builders who are lobbying the Legislature in Carson City to pass Senate Bill 241, or the "right to repair" bill.

Born Oct. 25, 1946, in Wisconsin, Tomlinson moved to Arizona with his family and attended high school there. He earned a degree in business administration from Arizona State University in 1972 and went to work for Security Pacific Bank in Los Angeles.

He joined Fredericks Development Corp. in 1975 and was assigned to Phoenix in 1985 when Fredericks merged with Presley Cos.

He came to Las Vegas in 1989 as the housing market started to boom, working nearly 15 years for Molasky. He oversaw $250 million in apartment construction for Pacific Properties in four Western states.

"He was the consummate professional and a lot of fun to work with," Molasky said. "He had a wonderful relationship with every developer in town."

Tomlinson's commitment to the building industry and home builders group was remarkable, said Irene Porter, executive director of the association.

"Mark Tomlinson is among the most respected and highly regarded builders and active citizens in our community," Porter said. "He was a very caring, thoughtful and intelligent man who worked diligently on many important issues and projects for the benefit of our industry and our community."

Tomlinson's hobbies included drag racing and playing guitar.

He is survived by a daughter, Lisa Loftis, of Texas; a son, Alex, of Southern California; and two grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are pending with Hite Funeral Home of Henderson.