Sun executive remembered with football contest winnings

Friday, Jan. 10, 2003 | 2:26 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION: Jan. 11, 2003

As a journalist based in Las Vegas, Dave Tuley did not know Sandy Thompson, but he was inspired by her writing and activism.

Thompson, a Sun vice president and columnist who was devoted to children's causes and family issues, was killed in a traffic accident Aug. 9.

Shortly afterward, Tuley entered a charity football prediction contest for media members sponsored by Station Casinos.

As a tribute to Thompson, Tuley decided to name the Sun Camp Fund -- one of Thompson's favorite causes -- as his designated charity.

He ended up scoring a $500 win for the Sun Camp Fund, which helps send underprivileged kids to summer camp.

"I never met (Thompson), but I certainly saw what kind of impact she had on her community and admired what an active role she took with children's issues," said Tuley, who writes about sports betting and the Las Vegas scene for the Daily Racing Form, the nation's leading horse racing publication.

Tuley regularly read Thompson's columns, many of which focused on the treatment of abused and neglected children.

Tuley said the birth of his daughter Jordyn in May made him realize how much Thompson's advocacy would be missed.

"As a journalist, it certainly made me question if I could ever make such a positive impact as (Thompson) did on the community, considering my career choice covering sports betting," Tuley said.

Tuley's $500 contest payoff for the charity came in a roundabout way.

After 10 weeks of the football season, Tuley was in the middle of the pack of contestants and would have had to pass 20 others to reach the top spot.

Because the contest pays the top three finishers and also the bottom three, Tuley decided to start trying to pick as many losers as possible. The contest requires entrants to predict the outcome of NFL games.

"I only had to pass a handful to get in the money for the most losers," said Tuley, who finished third from the bottom in the final standings.

The contest awards $3,000 to the champion's charity, $1,000 to the runner-up's charity and $500 to the third-place finisher's charity, Station spokeswoman Leslie Pittman said, with a similar payout schedule for those picking the most losers.

Contest winners will present their checks to the charities on Jan. 23 at Palace Station, Pittman said.