Bob Stupak dead at 67

from www.digitaljournal.com


Famous Las Vegas entrepreneur, Bob Stupak,
builder of the Stratosphere Tower, owner of
Vegas World, died after battling leukemia in
Las Vegas Friday. Bob Stupak died Friday at
Desert Springs Hospital in Las Vegas after battling
Leukemia. He was 67.

Stupak was best known for building the
Stratosphere Hotel and the 1,149-foot-tall
Tower that still dominates the north end
of the Las Vegas Strip. Before the Stratosphere
he had the Vegas World, which was born from his
venture called ‘Bob Stupak’s World Famous Historic
Gambling Museum and Casino.’ When he first arrived
in Vegas in the 1970’s he started with a restaurant.

Bob Stupak was born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
April 6, 1942. According to wikapedia, once he was
of legal age he arrived in Vegas and started a coupon
book venture. After a rough go at business in Australia
he was asked to leave the country and ended back in
Vegas in 1971 and put together enough money to buy
1.5 acres of land north of Sahara Ave and Las Vegas Blvd.
After the gambling museum burned down he opened
Vegas World and in the 1980’s he grossed $100,000,000 a year.
In 1979 he won a highly publicized million dollar wager on
Super Bowl XXII and then later that year he won the
Deuce to Seven Lowball championship bracelet in the
World Series of Poker.

In 1995 he was in a horrific motorcycle accident, breaking
every bone in his face. At that time he was building the
Stratosphere, which opened in 1996. It was a financial
blunder at the time costing $550 million to construct which
went into bankruptcy and was sold.

During his life in Las Vegas he was in constant pursuit of
political office but never won a position in any political office.
Senator Harry Reid commented to Jay David Murphy on
the passing of Bob Stupak, "Bob has been my friend for
35 years, and I was saddened to learn of his passing.
Las Vegas has seen many visionary people come and go
throughout the years, but few personified the town like
Bob did. He was a genuine Las Vegas character. My thoughts
and prayers go out to Bob's family and friends during this
difficult time."

For Bob Stupak, Las Vegas was a roller coaster ride, but he l
eaves a legacy on Las Vegas Boulevard -- his vision, his
Stratosphere, which continues to this day to amaze visitors,
now with roller coaster rides on its top.