Bill ’69 and Bonnie Paulos

Over the years, Bill and Bonnie Paulos have been familiar figures courtside at the Thomas & Mack, as well as at UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hospitality. Bill, a 1969 graduate of hospitality, was its 2006 Alumnus of the Year. He and Bonnie have been ardent supporters of the Rebel Athletics Fund, the Coaches Continuity Fund, and the Jerry Vallen Professorship Endowment, showing their Rebel pride at every opportunity.

Bill started his career at the Fremont Hotel & Casino and the Royal Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. He joined Circus Circus Enterprises in 1980. His leadership in developing new properties helped the company grow into one of the most successful operators in Nevada. He was named 1992’s Casino Industry Executive of the Year by the International Gaming Business Executives.

After developing the only full-scale casino in Melbourne, Australia in 1994, Bill returned to Las Vegas, where, in 1997, he co-founded Millennium Management Group (MMG) with longtime friend and former classmate Bill Wortman. MMG developed Greektown Casino in Detroit. The partners later formed Cannery Casino Resorts and serve as co-CEO’s. Cannery Casino Resorts now owns Rampart Casino, Cannery Casino & Hotel, Eastside Cannery Casino & Hotel, and Pennsylvania’s Meadows Racetrack & Casino.

Bill has served on the boards of the UNLV Foundation and Problem Gaming Center, and was City of Hope’s 2004 Man of the Year. He and Bonnie became founding donors of the Smith Center for the Performing Arts.