State building service planned for Bennett

Monday, Sept. 28, 1998 | 10:57 a.m.

When Max Bennett served in the Nevada Assembly, he criticized the state for installing marble floors in the then-new Grant Sawyer State Office Building, saying they cost taxpayers too much money.

He once confided to a friend that when he died he would like to have his services at that facility so "we'll get some use out of those floors."

On Oct. 3, friends will gather in the lobby of the Grant Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave., to say goodbye to Bennett during a 10 a.m. memorial service.

Former Assemblyman Max Jene Bennett, R-Las Vegas, died Sept. 19. He was 46.

Bennett, a resident of Las Vegas for 10 years, represented District 14 during his one term in the Nevada Legislature, 1995-96.

A Nevada Test Site drilling engineer, Bennett defeated state corrections officer Mark Clarke by about 300 votes in November 1994 for the seat in the lower house.

He served on the Assembly government affairs, education, natural resources and agricultural and mining committees.

Bennett was one of the few state lawmakers who did not oppose the proposed nuclear dump for Yucca Mountain. He said that if it could be proved to be safe, the nuclear waste repository would provide an economic boost to the state.

He lost to Democrat Ellen Koivisto by 700 votes when he sought re-election in 1996.

Bennett was born in Oklahoma and earned degrees in mathematics and physics from East Central University in Ada, Okla.

A former member of the Clark County Republican Party Central Committee, Bennett received the GOP "Leadership Award" in 1994.

Bennett is survived by his father, Jack Sr. of San Antonio; a son, Matthew of Blanchard, Okla.; two daughters, Nicole of Biloxi, Miss., and Jennifer of Las Vegas; a brother, Jack Jr. of Countyline, Okla.; and grandmother, Viola Lawson, also of Countyline.

Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society handled the arrangements.

DONATIONS: In Bennett's memory to the Operation Godspeed chapel fund at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 722 Canyon Road, Boulder City, NV 89005.