Irving George Davis (born 1925)

irving-george-davis-b1925

https://ggbmagazine.com/articles/i-g-jack-davis-dies-at-92/

• I.G. "Jack" Davis dies at 92

I.G. “Jack” Davis dies at 92

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1 Min Read - September 2, 2017

Casino pioneer Irving George “Jack Davis has died at 92.

Davis was named president of Resorts International in the 1960s and headed the company as it opened the Paradise Island Hotel and Casino—later renamed Atlantis—in the Bahamas. The casino grew into the largest tourist destination in the Bahamas.

He also helped spearhead the New Jersey referendum to allow casino gaming in Atlantic City and Resorts was the first to open a casino there in 1978. It was the first U.S., casino outside of Nevada and the first opened by a publicly traded company.

Davis was also credited with persuading other casino companies at the time to consider and invest in the seaside gaming resort. Those included Caesars, Bally’s and the Golden Nugget.

Later, in 1987, Davis secured a deal with now President Donald Trump to buy a controlling interest in Resorts and left the company. The deal continued Trump’s controversial tenure in Atlantic City in which he sold Resorts to entertainer Merv Griffin, but retained control of the former Trump Taj Mahal casino, then being constructed by Resorts. When the casino faltered on its opening in 1990—briefly being closed by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission—Trump hired Davis as president of the casino, who then turned the property around.

Davis later left the Taj and founded Capital Gaming, which developed a riverboat casino in New Orleans. He also worked with several Native American tribal groups that opened successful casinos.

According to his obituary in the New York Times, Davis born in White Plains, NY on February 18th, 1925. He attended Trinity High School before serving as a navy pilot during WWII. He then attended Williams College and Harvard Business School.

Davis was married to Brigitte Schulz in 1962 until her death in 1972. Together they had two sons, Mark and Gregory, who survive him. He later married Caroline (Kimmel) in 1983 and for a third time to Petra Davis from 2006 to 2010.

I G Jack Davis

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nytimes/name/ig-davis-obituary?id=8743281

IG DAVIS Obituary

DAVIS-- I. G. "Jack"

I.G. "Jack" Davis, Gaming Industry Pioneer, Dies at 92. The numbers "7" and "21" commonly associated with Craps and Blackjack now mark the passing of gaming industry icon, Irving George "Jack" Davis, Jr. on July 21st, 2017. Jack was born in White Plains, NY on February 18th, 1925. A generous man with a brilliant business mind, Jack attended Trinity High School before serving as a navy pilot during WWII. He then attended Williams College and Harvard Business School as a member of its most successful Class of '49. In the early 1960s, Jack became president of Resorts International, which opened the Paradise Island Hotel and Casino in the Bahamas in 1967. Under his leadership, Paradise Island grew into the largest tourist destination in the Bahamas. The property was later renamed "Atlantis." In 1976, Resorts International sponsored a referendum to permit gambling in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and, upon its passage, proceeded to open the first casino there on the site of the former Haddon Hall hotel. At that time, it was the first publicly traded gaming company in the U.S. and operated the only casino outside of Las Vegas. To help revive the city and attract more visitors, Jack persuaded many other well-known gaming companies to open casinos in Atlantic City, including Caesars, Bally's and the Golden Nugget. In doing so, he ushered in a new era of gaming, in which casinos were operated by reputable, professionally managed public companies. In 1987, Jack facilitated a deal with Donald J. Trump to buy controlling interest in Resorts International and left the company. Trump struck a deal with entertainment mogul, Merv Griffin to buy the company in 1988, but retained the ownership of the Taj Mahal -- the largest casino in the world -- then under construction by Resorts International. However, upon its opening in 1990, the casino faced numerous operational problems, culminating in a 30 day closure by the Casino Control Commission. As a result, within the span of a few weeks, Trump had fired two presidents and finally recruited Jack to replace them. After successfully launching the Trump Taj Mahal, Jack left to found Capital Gaming, which developed a riverboat casino in New Orleans. He later utilized his extensive gaming expertise to guide several Indian tribes toward very profitable casinos that still exist to this day. In gaming, Jack Davis was a pioneer and a man that shaped the careers of many gaming professionals, some of whom now run the largest and most profitable casinos in the world. Jack was married to Brigitte Schulz in 1962 until her untimely death in 1972. Together they had two sons, Mark and Gregory. Wonderful times were spent together in Clearwater, Florida and on Paradise Island. He married Caroline (Kimmel) in 1983. Their time together was spent in Atlantic City during its heyday and Aspen, Colorado, where they shared their passion for snow skiing. Jack was married to Petra from 2006 to 2010. Most recently, Jack lived in Miami Beach, Florida, where he enjoyed nights with his poker buddies and football weekends with his sons and grandchildren. Jack was preceded in death by his parents Irving and Henriette Davis and his sister June (Churchill). He was the beloved father of Mark C. Davis and Gregory W. Davis (Liz) and the adored 'Papa Jack' of Sabina E. Davis and Spencer W. Davis. He will be fondly remembered for his great sense of humor, storytelling and a mean game of backgammon!