I've never set foot in a casino, I do not like the game world, but always I liked the good stories of women and men who knew nothing of making himself up to become people respected and admired by all, the story of Claudine Williams is one of them.
Williamns Claudine was born March 17, 1921, in De Soto Parish (Mansfield), a small rural town in the southern state of Louisiana, his mother was single and of humble origins that led to Claudine to have to stop the ninth primary studies and get to work at the age of 12 years as a waitress in a restaurant serving workers in an oil field nearby, later comment that this was for her, the only subject yet his life had not continued with their studies. Later he found work at a private club and casino in Bossier Parish where distributed game cards.
At fifteen he moved with his mother to Dallas, and have to lie about their age to get a job at a casino run by Binion, who later would open in Las Vegas Binion's. This job enabled him to gain experience and knowledge most of the gaming business that would help you throughout your life.
A few years later he moved to Houston, where he continued working in various restaurants that also offered the chance to play, and know Shelby Williams a sports writer who begins a courtship that would be interrupted to enlist as a Marine during the Second World War. At that time the game was illegal but yet it was tolerated, and Claudine begins to consider the possibility of having your own business. Twenty-one he bought his first store, a steackhouse in Houston had also casino.
"I remember that during World War II was to visit a friend who was a cashier in a Houston bank for a loan of $ 5,000. He said: My God, Claudine, How are you going to return it? I told him I was going to open a restaurant - a small steackhouse - and I would return the profits to make the loan. He said, "What are you going to use as collateral? And I said, I give my word.
got the loan and spent it fixing the place, and when the government began rationing meat and I sat down, and started screaming that he was going to lose everything. I instead, I looked at my options, and if he could get could get hamburger steaks, and transform my elegant steackhouse in a burger restaurant. I returned the loan and made more money than I ever dreamed, and all because I could not give up.
My philosophy was always that when a client spent $ 1, should work best to make sure you are satisfied. There is no better advertising than that provided by a satisfied customer. And this is as good as anyone who requests a loan of several thousand dollars to buy a car like that spends playing in a casino.
Those who survived the Great Depression learned the value of a dollar. We had to find good deals because wages were low and money was scarce. And when we were getting a good job, we had to work hard to keep because we were there were eight people willing to take it. I worked in nightclubs and cleaned houses to 14 years - to support my mother, sister and grandmother. "
In 1950 he married Shelby Williams in Houston, and continue to expand its chain of restaurants, casino until in 1965 decide to go to Las Vegas and buy one of their casinos, the Silver Slipper.
"Employers need to be innovators. When my husband and I were Shelby owners of the Silver Slipper in the late 60's, we hosted the televised boxing matches. The TV networks would not let us put any of the Silver poster Slipper behind the ring, but Shelby had the idea to put on dresses and the girls carrying posters announcing the number of assault in the fighting. This was an innovation that gained popularity. "
In 1969, millionaire Howard Hughes sold its casino, and the earnings of the purchased land in front of Ceasars Palace and adjacent to holday Inn. in order to build a new casino, the Holiday casino, a casino in the shape of the old floating casinos were crossing the Mississippi. On July 2, 1973 the Shelby and Claudine dream comes to an end, and the Holiday Casino opens its doors.
"When Shelby and I built the Holiday Casino was a small business, but we did everything possible to ascertain with the business. When Holiday Inn. / Harrah's bought it, they bought so it was with pleasant family atmosphere. It is difficult for a large corporation to work well, but Harrah's knew it very well.
To operate a business, no matter if a small business or a giant corporation is to respect your employees because they are my companions on my investment. They are the first to greet customers, and we are in a service industry.
And my door was always open to any of them, whether they wanted to tell them they are being unfairly treated as if they would give me a suggestion on how to improve the business. You never know what one can learn if you know how to listen.
I also want to stress the importance of a good education. My only regret is that I completed my education. However, I grew up in a different time today. I could not do now what I did then. "
Shelby Williams died in 1977, Claudine decided to take the chairmanship of the casino, would become the first woman to head a casino in Las Vegas.
"As a woman in the gaming business, I never experienced discrimination which have faced some women in other fields. Because from the beginning I showed that I was more than willing to bear the responsibility of the post.
Everything was more difficult at that time for a woman, now a woman if she has the freedom to choose their path with the support of his family without thinking about what other people think of it.
Choose a path and try to find a job with which to enjoy the exercise. If your job is pleased and you feel proud of it, the chances for success are much higher. "
sold in 1979 to 40% ownership of Harrah's casino, a corporation that was already owned the adjacent building on Holiday Inn., 60 million dollars, and the remaining 60% in 1983 to 120 million dollars, but the company Harrah's counting on her to continue to lead the casino, everyone knew of his wisdom in the business, and make it a splendid offer which she accepted.
Successive changes have occurred in the casino Harrah'sa over the past few years, until in 1997 the old ship disappears steam and turns into a casino with a carnival theme, investing $ 200 million.
Claudine But the work does not adhere to their work in the casinos, was also a selfless woman, with continuing donations to the University of Nevada, and charitable institutions and active participation in various cultural and tourist organizations City of Las Vegas.
On May 13, 2009, Claudine Williams died at his home in Las Vegas at the age of 88 years, the city misses its loss from the highest public office until the last employee who worked for her, for having been a respected and beloved by all, and for many it will be difficult to imagine the world of the game without her presence, Las Vegas has lost a legend, lost to Queen of the Game.
Fuetes: www.lasvegassun.com, www.lvrj.com,
Photos: Roadsidepictures , schlaus ,
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