Former LVCVA official dies at 86

Las Vegas has lost one of the men who helped transform the city from a gambling getaway to a resort destination.

Frank Sain, former executive director of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, died Sunday. He was 86.

At Tuesday's meeting of the LVCVA's board of directors, Clark County Commissioner and board Chairman Tom Collins called for a moment of silence to mark the passing of Sain, who led the authority from 1981-1991.

Sain is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; a brother, Ken Sain; three sons, Gary and wife Pamela, Todd and wife Vicky, and Chad; and six grandchildren.

Among Sain's accomplishments while on the board was consolidation of six departments into two: operations, headed by Bill Hammond; and marketing, directed by Rossi Ralenkotter, who is now president and CEO.

While most agreed in the end that the reorganization was for the best, employees at the time opposed it.

On Sain's death, Ralenkotter said: "Frank Sain was a tremendous leader who came to the LVCVA with a vision to make Las Vegas a leading destination for conventions, and it was a great honor to work with Frank to make that vision come true. It's a tribute to Frank's legacy that Las Vegas has become the No. 1 trade show destination in North America and has held that position for 17 consecutive years. The LVCVA has lost a friend and the industry has lost a leader. Our thoughts go out to his family."

Sain's time at the authority marked a significant period in Las Vegas tourism history. In the 1980s, Las Vegas' economy went through a recession followed by unprecedented growth in the valley.

Visitors in 1980 totaled 11 million, compared with more than 20 million in 1990.

Throughout his tenure, though, Sain was criticized by board members for trying to circumvent their authority. Publicized battles included one in 1987 when Sain leased convention space to 18 conventions for less than was mandated by the board at the time.

When he retired in 1991, Sain was quoted as saying: "The problems I had were never with the board, although that's what the media played up. It was with disgruntled department heads. People who wanted to protect their fiefdoms. I am leaving the organization much better than when I came. It's a testament to the organization. Our ability to market middle America."

Sain, a native of Chicago and a 1949 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, spent 11 years flying F-3H jets before he resigned with the rank of lieutenant commander in 1961 to spend more time with his wife and children.

His first job after leaving the military was as administrative engineer of aviation at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Three years later, Sain went to work for Butler Aviation and, in 1971, became president of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau, where he remained until coming to Las Vegas in 1981.

Visitation is scheduled from 3-7 p.m. today at Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd. A funeral is slated for 10 a.m. Thursday at Guardian Angel Cathedral, 302 Cathedral Way.

Graveside services are scheduled for 9:20 a.m. Friday at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Buchanan Blvd., in Boulder City.

Contact reporter Laura Carroll at lcarroll@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4588.