Former Gov. List makes LV home

Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000 | 11:05 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Former Gov. Bob List, who lived most of his life in Northern Nevada, has moved to Las Vegas with his new consulting business.

"The business climate down here is so dynamic and it's probably the most exiting place in the country right now," List said. "Inc. magazine named Las Vegas the top city in America to start a new business."

List has a broad range of clients in and out of Nevada, including those in gaming, construction, energy, manufacturing, real estate, electronics and mining.

"There is a broad spectrum and they all have dealings with government," he said.

List served 16 years in government -- four years as district attorney in Carson City, two terms as attorney general and one term as governor, from 1979 to 1983. After leaving office, he joined the Reno law firm of Vargas and Bartlett as a partner. In 1986 he became the managing partner in the Reno office of the law firm of Beckley, Singleton, Jemison, Cobeaga and List.

He became a member of the board of directors of Boomtown Inc., a publicly traded hotel-casino company with properties in Reno and Las Vegas, and in April 1993 he was named senior vice president and corporate counsel. List led efforts by the company in the opening of casinos in Mississippi and Louisiana.

The former Republican governor was involved in the legal work for the 1997 merger of Boomtown Inc. into Hollywood Park Inc. He continued as a consultant but started his own firm.

Despite his move to Las Vegas, List said he still retains his clients in Northern Nevada. His move to Southern Nevada has been an "easy transition," he said.

"I spent a huge amount of time down here at various times," List said. "I had an apartment and a condominium. I have a good many friends and business associates and I still get back to Reno and Carson City."

He serves on the boards of directors of Clark and Sullivan Constructors, which has its contracting offices in Las Vegas and Reno; Game Data, a Las Vegas gaming research and development company, and Cole Industries Inc., a North Las Vegas firm that manufactures and assembles cabinets and components for the gaming industry.

He said he continues to be involved in political activities and will help in the U.S. Senate campaign for John Ensign.