Taking part in the 2006 Nevada Business Hall of Fame event at Bellagio last week are Ricci Flaherty, from left, Richard Flaherty, Richard Morgan, Stavros Anthony, Tina Morgan, Bret Whipple and Jay Kornmayer. Robert Lewis, from left, Catalina Lewis, Michael Harter and Carol Harter greet guests arriving for the 2006 Nevada Business Hall of Fame Dinner Feb. 17 at Bellagio. Lewis is one of the hall's new inductees. Photos by Marian Umhoefer. Gene Greenberg, from left, Melanie Greenberg and Mel Wolzinger chat during the 2006 Nevada Business Hall of Fame reception at Bellagio. Among the guests attending the 2006 Nevada Business Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony are Scott Machabee, from left, Judy Machabee and Clark Wood. Visiting during the Nevada Business Hall of Fame party are Marjorie Johnson, from left, R.H. Johnson and Joyce Mack. R.H. Johnson accepted the 2006 inductee award for the late Del Webb, while Mack accepted the honor on behalf of her late husband, Jerome Mack.

Robert Lewis and the late Jerome Mack and Del Webb were inducted into the Nevada Business Hall of Fame during a dinner presented by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas College of Business Feb. 16 in the Tower Ballroom at Bellagio.

The men were honored for helping chart the course for a prosperous and progressive Nevada.

The Nevada Business Hall of Fame was founded in 2002 and has 12 inductees. The awards consist of six crystal building blocks ascending skyward.

Making the presentation was outgoing UNLV President Carol Harter, who received a standing ovation. She was assisted by Richard Flaherty, dean of the business college.

The first recipient to be honored was Lewis, head of the Nevada operations of the Lewis group of companies, one of the nation's largest privately held real estate development groups.

Webb made a significant impact on Southern Nevada as a contractor, developer, gaming pioneer and philanthropist. In 1972, he was the largest gaming operator and private employer in Nevada, and it was in 1988 that the Del Webb Corp. brought the Sun City concept to Las Vegas. Accepting the Webb award was R.H. Johnson.

The late Mack was represented by his wife, Joyce Mack, and their daughter, Barbara. Jerome "Jerry" Mack was a pioneer Las Vegas financier who co-founded what is now UNLV by starting the land foundation at UNLV with partner E. Parry Thomas. Mack served as president of the Riviera and a director of the Four Queens. He founded the Bank of Las Vegas, which later merged with E. Parry Thomas and Valley Bank. Mack served as vice chairman of Valley Bank.

Past Nevada Business Hall of Fame recipients in attendance included E. Parry Thomas, 2002; Claudine Williams, 2003; J.A. Tiberti, 2004; James Rogers, 2004; and representing the late Hank Greenspun, who was posthumously honored in 2005, was Barbara Greenspun and family.

Also attending were Richard Morgan, dean of the UNLV law school, and his wife, Tina; UNLV Provost Ray Alden and his wife, Becky; Community College of Southern Nevada President Richard Carpenter; Jane and Jim Nichols; and university Regents Bret Whipple, Thalia Dondero, Stavros Anthony and Jack Schofield.

Among the guests were Mel Wolzinger, Sandra Odell and Doug Ferraro, Kitty Rodman, Pat Shalmy, Selma and Troy Bartlett, Clark Wood, Judy and Scott Machabee, Carolyn Sparks, Susan and Tom Warden, Ann and Michael Graham, Mary Jo and Rossi Ralenkotter, Ira Sternberg and Gina Polovina, Michael Harter, Catalina Lewis, and Irene Porter with her daughter, Sherry.

Nina Radetich, KVBC-TV, Channel 3, news anchor, served as mistress of ceremonies.

Big first anniversary bash: The Atomic Testing Museum, situated on the grounds of the Desert Research Institute, celebrated its first anniversary with a party over three days at its East Flamingo Road facility.

The first event took place Friday evening with a mix and mingle party. Troy Wade, chairman and president of the Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation, addressed the crowd and introduced Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, who spoke on the value of the Nevada Test Site and its role in helping win the Cold War for the United States.

Museum director Bill Johnson followed with remarks about the value of the Atomic Testing Museum for generations to come, and what an educational tool it has already become. J.L. Jordon was introduced as the director of marketing and public relations for the museum.

New Nevada license plates were displayed, which can be purchased to help defray the cost of the museum's debt campaign.

Concluding the evening was entertainment by Delisco and his band. Delisco is the winner of the E! TV reality series, "The Entertainer," hosted by Wayne Newton. Delisco won a chance to perform at the Las Vegas Hilton, where he recently completed his debut.

On Saturday, the museum showed atomic-themed movies with free popcorn.

And on Sunday the museum's admission was half-price for Nevada residents.

Birthday party: Friends and members of the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society honored Douglas R. Peterson on Feb. 8 on the occasion of his 80th birthday. Fifty guests joined his daughter, Carolyn Peterson, and two sons, David and Robert, at Robert's home.

Music for the gala event was provided by guitarist Art Gomez.

Peterson's activity in the musical arts in Southern Nevada is well-known. An emeritus associate professor of music at UNLV, he taught there for 36 years. He was a recipient of the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts in 1987. Peterson received the Achievement Award in Arts and Entertainment from the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce in 1998.

Choral groups under his direction have performed with distinction at both regional and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association. He is in his 38th year as the music director of the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society.