Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 24–Senators Raggio, Amodei, Care, Carlton, Cegavske, Coffin, Hardy, Mathews, McGinness, Neal, Nolan, O’Connell, Rawson, Rhoads, Schneider, Shaffer, Tiffany, Titus, Townsend, Washington and Wiener

 

Joint Sponsors: Assemblymen Griffin, Anderson, Andonov, Angle, Arberry, Atkinson, Beers, Brown, Buckley, Carpenter, Chowning, Christensen, Claborn, Collins, Conklin, Geddes, Gibbons, Giunchigliani, Goicoechea, Goldwater, Grady, Gustavson, Hardy, Hettrick, Horne, Knecht, Koivisto, Leslie, Mabey, Manendo, Marvel, McClain, McCleary, Mortenson, Oceguera, Ohrenschall, Parks, Perkins, Pierce, Sherer, Weber and Williams

 

FILE NUMBER..........

 

Senate Concurrent RESOLUTION—Memorializing Nevada businessman and civic leader Tom “Big Dog” Wiesner.

 

    Whereas, The residents of the State of Nevada were deeply

 saddened to learn of the passing of longtime resident, businessman

 and civic leader, Tom “Big Dog” Wiesner; and

    Whereas, Tom Wiesner was born February 28, 1939, in

 Wausau, Wisconsin, later moving to Neenah, Wisconsin, with his

 family, where he graduated from Neenah High School in 1957; and

    Whereas, Before graduating from the University of Wisconsin

 with a bachelor’s degree in education, in addition to other

 accomplishments, Tom Wiesner captained the Badger football team

 to a Big 10 title in 1959 and to the Rose Bowl in 1960; and

    Whereas, In 1963, following a brief stint in professional

 football, Tom Wiesner moved to Las Vegas where he married Lynn

 Geary, a schoolteacher, in 1965, and became the proud father of

 daughter Kari and son Kurt; and

    Whereas, Tom Wiesner’s various business ventures prospered,

 including real estate investment and the development of the Las

 Vegas Athletic Clubs and a chain of Wisconsin-themed restaurants,

 as did his commitment to the betterment and economic

 development of the Las Vegas community, including his

 involvement with the Clark County Commission, Nevada

 Development Authority, Nevada Chamber of Commerce, Greater

 Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the Las Vegas Convention

 and Visitors’ Authority; and

    Whereas, Tom Wiesner showed an equal commitment to

 developing educational resources in Las Vegas by serving on the

 Clark County Community College Foundation, and then becoming

 a charter member of the UNLV Foundation and later a UNLV

Foundation Trustee Emeritus and finally, because of his

contributions, he was inducted into the UNLV Foundation’s Silver

 Medallion Society and received the UNLV Silver State Award; and

    Whereas, In addition to supporting education in Nevada, Tom

 Wiesner also developed a love for his hometown team, the UNLV

 Running Rebels, serving on the UNLV Football Foundation’s

 Advisory Board and, in recognition of his contributions to the

 sports programs at UNLV, he was inducted into the UNLV Athletic

 Hall of Fame and the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame, and

 even had a street named after him, Wiesner Way; and

    Whereas, While Tom Wiesner was a big supporter of the

 UNLV Rebels, his heart remained true to his University of

 Wisconsin Badgers, a loyalty that was exemplified by his hosting of

 the Badger Desert Golf Classic, a Wisconsin alumni fundraiser, for

 the last 11 years in Las Vegas and his role in coordinating football

 games between Wisconsin and UNLV, drawing thousands of

 Wisconsin fans to Las Vegas for the games; and

    Whereas, Among the many charities to which Tom Wiesner

 devoted his time and provided financial support were the Boys and

 Girls Clubs of Clark County, the United Way, the American Cancer

 Society and Easter Seals of Clark County; and

    Whereas, In 1996, Tom Wiesner ran unopposed for a seat on

 the Board of Regents, where he remained a member until February

 2002, when he resigned to spend time with his family, and in May

 2002, the Board of Regents recognized his many contributions to

 the State of Nevada by naming him a recipient of its highest honor,

 the Distinguished Nevadan Award; and

    Whereas, In addition to his love for Las Vegas and all things

 Wisconsin, Tom Wiesner also had a love for the GOP, where he

 served for nearly 2 decades as Republican National Committeeman,

 was well known for his financial and moral support of the party,

 and was named Republican Man of the Year in 1994; and

    Whereas, Following his passing in June, UNLV instituted the

 Tom Wiesner Award, to be given to a senior football player who

 most exemplifies the leadership and courage that Tom Wiesner

 displayed throughout his life; and

    Whereas, Tom Wiesner is survived by his beloved wife, Lynn,

 daughter Kari and son Kurt, all of Las Vegas, as well as a

 granddaughter and five brothers; now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, the

 Assembly Concurring, That the members of the Senate and

 Assembly extend their heartfelt sympathy to the family of Tom

 “Big Dog” Wiesner; and be it further

    Resolved, That Tom Wiesner will long be remembered for his

 compassion, honesty, quick wit and love of life, as well as his love

 for the GOP, Las Vegas and all things Wisconsin; and be it further

    Resolved, That the people of the State of Nevada will long

remember Tom Wiesner’s generosity to this state and to his

 community; and be it further

    Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and transmit

 a copy of this resolution to Tom Wiesner’s beloved wife, Lynn.

 

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