Marilyn and Mel Larson

Marilyn Larson established the Mel Larson Endowed Chair in Marketing at the Lee Business School in 2017. She made the gift to recognize her late husband. Married in 1979, Marilyn and Mel Larson were partners in life from the day they met and shared 57 years together.

Marketing pioneer and racing aficionado Mel Larson was well known and respected for his business expertise demonstrated as executive vice president of Circus Circus properties for many years. Mel was instrumental in bringing NASCAR racing to Las Vegas and in creating the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He was also an accomplished helicopter pilot. In November 1980, when he learned of the tragic fire at the MGM Grand Hotel, his expertise as a pilot allowed him to rescue several people from the roof of the burning hotel.

Marilyn Larson wished to honor her husband’s memory in perpetuity while providing the Mel Larson Chair in Marketing the ability to innovate in the classroom in the discipline of marketing. The resources provided by the fund will also promote the Lee Business School by helping to present cutting-edge research at national and international conferences, and inspire and encourage students of marketing.

Since she retired from Arizona Public Service Company in Phoenix, Marilyn has served on the UMC Auxiliary Board and on the Animal Foundation Board of Directors and its Emeritus Board. In spite of the familiar idiom, “Behind every great man is a great woman,” Marilyn says that her life has been more rewarding because of this great man.