Friday, January 07, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

JOHN L. SMITH: One who knows fortunes and misfortunes has idea for tsunami aid

Unsinkable Mitzi Stauffer Briggs wasn't the most successful owner of a Strip casino, far from it, but few who have walked Las Vegas Boulevard can match her when it comes to showing compassion for those in need.

An heiress to the Stauffer Chemical family fortune, Briggs was once a major stockholder at the Tropicana before fateful twists worthy of a Mario Puzo novel led to her financial ruin. Today, she spends most of her time working at a local church and giving of her time to help others.

When she wrote recently to present her idea to help survivors of the Indian Ocean tsunami, I knew I had to pass along her message in the form of an open letter to all general managers of Las Vegas casinos.

If anyone knows about surviving stormy weather, it's unsinkable Mitzi.

In the mid-1970s, she invested the first of ever-increasing amounts of her personal fortune into the Tropicana at a time not all its insiders were playing it straight. At the time of her licensing approval in January 1976, Briggs held a 51.2 percent ownership stake and was acting president of the Tropicana Hotel Corp. Other stockholders of note were Minnesota attorney Deil Gustafson and Las Vegans Edward and Fred Doumani.

On paper, diminutive Joseph Agosto was only a producer of the "Folies Bergere" show. In fact, he secretly represented the Civella mob family of Kansas City.

Eventually, federal wiretaps captured a confidential network of hidden ownership fronted by Agosto. Briggs was referred to as "Femmena," or woman in Sicilian. Agosto and others bled Briggs' fortune.

Those wiretaps led to Agosto's cooperation and to the indictment of mob associates led by Kansas City boss Nick Civella. Briggs was duped, lost millions, and eventually left her foray into the casino racket with her finances in tatters.

She was never found to have been a part of the illegal activity that went on just beneath the surface at the casino. She was innocent, but that didn't make her any less broke.

Such a reversal of fortune would kill some people. It would make others bitter beyond measure, but not unsinkable Mitzi. Instead of turning sour, she turned to her God for strength and today continues her good work in the shadow of some of the Strip's megaresorts.

For my money, she's particularly qualified to send out a call for help to her former casino industry colleagues.

She writes, "I would like to share an idea, a hope with each of you.

"I hope that it would be possible for each casino to designate a certain area of your slots, perhaps three to five slots, to be used solely for the purpose of continuing relief to the countries devastated by the tsunami.

"As time passes and the enormity of the tragedy dims, there will continue to be a great need for steady financial assistance to the affected countries.

"The steady return from these slots could go a long way in seeing that this is accomplished."

What a marvelous idea. It's brilliant in its simplicity.

And what a tremendous public relations coup for the casinos that see fit to set aside the proceeds from just five slot machines to aid disaster victims.

I can almost hear some casino bosses grousing about how the industry already gives more than its fair share to charity, the poor, downtrodden, and flat busted. I'd swear I can hear others snipe that perhaps the Review-Journal should set aside the proceeds from five of its advertising-rich news pages to send to those tsunami survivors.

But that doesn't detract from the fact Briggs has come up with a splendid idea that not only holds the promise of raising substantial assistance, but also of changing the perception that those hugely profitable casino corporations are giants with puny hearts.

So feel free to ignore her great idea, all you gaming gurus, but remember that this was your chance to look like generous guys on an international level.

Don't let this get around town, but do the right thing and even I'll say something nice about you.

Unsinkable Mitzi Stauffer Briggs will be sure to put in a good word for you, too.

But, then, those are the only kind she knows.

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 383-0295.