Wiesner services scheduled

Tuesday, July 2, 2002 | 10:57 a.m.

Services for former university regent, Clark County commissioner and prominent Las Vegas businessman Tom Wiesner will be 3 p.m. July 16 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Cox Pavilion.

Wiesner, a prominent Republican Party member and owner of the Big Dog's Hospitality Group restaurant/casinos, died Tuesday at a hospital in Seattle, where he was undergoing treatment for leukemia. He was 63.

Wiesner, a noted University of Nevada, Las Vegas booster who is credited with bringing together UNLV and his alma mater Wisconsin for a series of football games that began in the 1980s, stepped down from his regent post in February because of health problems.

The native of Wisconsin and a Las Vegas resident for 39 years played for Wisconsin in the 1960 Rose Bowl, served on the Clark County Commission from 1970 to 1978, founded Big Dog's in 1990 and was elected to the Board of Regents in 1996.

The family said donations can be made in Wiesner's memory to the University of Wisconsin Foundation for the Wisconsin football program, the UNLV Foundation for the UNLV football program or to the New Horizons Academy for children with learning disabilities in Las Vegas.