Friday, Dec. 27, 2002 | 10:08 a.m.
Here's a list of noteworthy people from Las Vegas, or those who had ties to Las Vegas, who died in 2002:
Bill Bennett, 78, founder and chairman of Circus Circus Enterprises and owner of the Sahara, who marketed to families and the middle class. Dec. 22 at a local hospital following a lengthy illness.
Milton Berle, 93, acerbic cigar-smoking comedian known as "Mr. Television," who performed at the Sands, Desert Inn and Riviera from the 1950s through the '80s. March 27 in Los Angeles of colon cancer.
Sen. Howard Cannon, 90, World War II flying hero and a four-term Democratic U.S. senator from Nevada who became one of the most powerful figures on Capitol Hill. March 6 of congestive heart failure at a local hospice.
Joe Delaney, 80, longtime Sun entertainment columnist who during half a century in show business produced thousands of hours of local radio and television shows. Aug. 7 at a local hospital from complications of a stroke.
George Eiferman, 76, body builder who won the Mr. America title in 1948 and Mr. Universe in 1962. Feb. 13 at a local hospice of a stroke.
Ralph Engelstad, 72, gamer who refurbished the decaying Flamingo Capri on the Strip and in 1979 renamed it the Imperial Palace, where he housed his vast antique auto collection. Nov. 26 at his Las Vegas home from lung cancer.
John Entwistle, 57. original bass guitarist for the rock group The Who. June 27 from heart disease and cocaine use in a room at the Hard Rock Hotel prior to a scheduled performance.
Mel Exber, 78, pioneering casino boss who set the betting lines at his Las Vegas Club and co-owned gaming properties with Jackie Gaughan. May 11 at a local hospice from complications of a stroke.
Lilly Fong, 76, first Asian-American to serve on the Nevada Board of Regents and a prominent businesswoman, banker and civic leader. March 19 in Las Vegas of natural causes.
Oran Gragson, 91, longest serving Las Vegas mayor (1959-75), who championed transportation, housing for minorities and regional street planning. Oct. 7 at a local hospice of cancer.
Billy Guy, 66, original baritone of the rock 'n' roll group The Coasters ("Yakety-Yak" and "Charlie Brown"). Nov. 5 of heart disease in Las Vegas.
Hank Kovell, 80, a public relations executive who organized local merchants in the early 1960s to produce the first free coupon book that became a staple of downtown gaming. April 18 at a Los Angeles hospital from emphysema.
Floyd Lamb, 84, a tough rancher who become one of the state's most powerful state legislators until his 1983 conviction for attempted extortion. June 2 at his ranch in Alamo of natural causes.
Peggy Lee, 81, a smoky-voiced jazz and pop legend who headlined at the Las Vegas Hilton, Caesars Palace and the Frontier. Jan. 21 of a heart attack at her Bel Air, Calif. home.
Edna Luckman, 79, co-founder of the Gambler's Book Shop downtown in 1964 with her late husband, John Luckman, and co-publisher of some of the earliest books that gave gamblers tips on winning. Dec. 3 of heart failure in Las Vegas.
Herb McDonald, 83, a public relations boss who inspired the all-you-can-eat buffet in 1946 and played a major role in bringing the Beatles, National Finals Rodeo and golf tournaments to Las Vegas. July 6 in Las Vegas of natural causes.
Bill Miller, 98, longtime Las Vegas entertainment director who booked Elvis Presley's return to Las Vegas in 1969 at the International Hotel (now the Las Vegas Hilton). Dec. 9 of natural causes at his Palm Springs, Calif., home.
Sonny Reizner, 81, a bookmaker who instituted football handicapping contests and gained international attention for his betting line on "Who shot J.R.?" from the "Dallas" TV series. Nov. 30 of Parkinson's disease in Las Vegas.
Jeanne Roberts, 89, a Las Vegas cultural pioneer who was director of the city's first recreational center, the Wildcat Lair, founder of the Las Vegas Civic Ballet and a longtime dance teacher. Aug. 23 in Portland, Ore.
Al Sachs, 76, co-owner of the Stardust and Fremont hotels, who in the mid-1980s lost his gaming license amid allegations of skimming and mob ties that never were proven. Feb. 17 of pneumonia at a local hospital.
Jay R. Smith, 87, child actor of 36 "Our Gang" short subject silent films of the 1920s, where he portrayed a character often called "Specks." Oct. 5 found stabbed to death in the desert near Apex.
George Sydney, 85, three-time Academy Award-winning director of short subjects, whose feature films included "Viva Las Vegas" with Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret. May 5 at his Las Vegas home from lymphoma.
Sandy Thompson, 53, Las Vegas Sun associate editor and a family rights advocate whose award-winning column changed state guardianship laws. Aug. 9 in an auto accident in which her car was struck by a motorist under the influence of drugs.
Robert Urich, 55, an actor whose portrayal of fictional Las Vegas private eye Dan Tanna in the 1970s' "Vega$" TV series defined the modern though changing gambling center. April 16 in a Thousand Oaks, Calif. hospital of cancer.
Tom Wiesner, 63, a former Nevada regent, Clark County commissioner, prominent Republican Party member and founder of the Big Dog Hospitality Group restaurants and bars. June 25 of leukemia at a Seattle hospital.
Verne Winchell, 87, who founded Winchell's Donut House in the late 1940s and developed the Horizon Marketplace shopping center in Las Vegas. Nov. 26 at a local hospital of a heart attack.
Compiled by Sun staff writer Ed Koch.
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