Findlay driven by lending support

Steve Addy

Monday, June 18, 2001 | 10:31 a.m.

BEST OF THE BEST

When the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame inducts auto dealer Cliff Findlay on Friday, it won't be a case of buttering up the landlord.

Though Findlay gave the hall its first home last month, unveiling a permanent display room at Findlay Toyota in Henderson, his achieve- ments and contributions to local athletics made him worthy of induction long ago.

After a solid three-year UNLV basketball career (1967-70) in which he twice led the Rebels in rebounds, Findlay declined an offer from the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, opting for life as a Las Vegas businessman and community benefactor.

As owner of Findlay Automotive Group, he has been a tireless supporter of civic causes throughout Clark County, many of them sports-related.

Aside from being a longtime scholarship donor, his contributions to UNLV include donating dozens of automobiles for use by coaches and athletic staff. He has sponsored countless youth and recreational teams, and established the Las Vegas Baseball Academy to offer free instruction and scholarships to area kids.

"Cliff's community commitment is one of the best reasons (for his induction)," said Rolland Todd, UNLV basketball coach during Findlay's playing days.

"I know he personally supported every athletic program at the university at some point. Anytime a program needed something, they ended up on his doorstep and he came through. His loyalty to the university and the community is amazing."

That loyalty will be rewarded Friday night at Cox Pavilion. Findlay is part of a Hall of Fame class that includes ex-Raiders fullback Frank Hawkins, fight doctor Dr. Donald Romeo, former UNLV athletic director Dr. Brad Rothermel and the 1989-90 UNLV national championship basketball team.

Findlay, 52, regards community support as a businessman's responsibility. He owns 13 dealerships in Las Vegas, Henderson, Utah and Arizona.

"We spend about a half-million (dollars) a month on advertising, and I'd guess 10 percent of it goes straight to the community in sponsorships," he said. "We sell 2,000 cars a month. The community supports us, and we want to give back."

Findlay moved to Las Vegas from Pioche when he was 12. That was in 1961, when his father Pete opened Findlay Oldsmobile. Findlay grew tall (6-foot-8) and rangy, and became an all-state center at Western High. He averaged 15 points and 18 rebounds as a senior under coach Malcolm Jones.

After a year at Dixie College in St. George, Utah, Findlay returned to Las Vegas in 1967 to play at Nevada Southern University, UNLV's previous incarnation.

He was sixth man in 1967-68 when NSU went 22-7 and lost to Indiana State in the NCAA small college semifinals. Then Findlay became the starting center, averaging a team-high 11.3 rebounds in 1968-69 when NSU went 21-7, and 10.8 in 1969-70 when newly named UNLV went 17-9 in its first year in Division I.

Findlay's 317 rebounds in 1968-69 remain the 10th-most in any UNLV season.

The Rebels scored at least 100 points 30 times in Findlay's career, and he contributed by averaging 13 points, though UNLV's best scorers were Elburt Miller, Curtis Watson and Odis Allison.

"Rebounding was Cliff's strength, but he could get up and down the court, too," Todd said. "He worked hard at it. He looked kind of big and plodding, but his speed was more than adequate. He wasn't a hindrance on the break."

Findlay also drew tough defensive assignments, even guarding star center Elvin Hayes when NSU met highly rated Houston at the Convention Center in 1968. John Q. Trapp had fouled out, leaving sophomore Findlay as the only Rebel big enough to shadow Hayes. Houston won 94-85.

"We had some good teams," Findlay said. "I still think Elburt Miller had more athletic ability than anybody ever at UNLV. The 1990 and '91 teams got to the finals, but we had two or three guys who might've been able to make those lineups."

After Findlay's senior year, Todd left UNLV to coach the expansion Trail Blazers. He essentially guaranteed Findlay a roster spot in Portland, but Findlay said no, choosing to stay in Las Vegas with wife Donna to raise a family (four children) and learn the auto business.

Three decades later, he's still here, selling cars and opening his checkbook for UNLV, kids and weekend warriors alike.