CHARLES N. MATHEWSON 1928-2021

Charles “Chuck” Norman Mathewson, loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, leader of one of the world’s most successful gaming companies, and generous donor, passed away after a brief illness on

October 24 at his home in Reno, Nevada. He was 93. Chuck was grateful for the life he led and always expressed appreciation for how lucky he was. An eternal optimist, he held an unrelenting conviction that anything could be achieved through hard work and self-belief. He dreamed big and encouraged those around him to do so as well. Born in 1928 to Alfred and Mildred Mathewson of Huntington Park, CA, and as a child during the Great Depression, he quickly developed a strong work ethic while working in the family’s struggling neighborhood market. After graduating from St. Anthony High School in Long Beach, a brief stint as a cowboy leading a string of horses into the Sierras convinced him to pursue careers that relied on his mind, not muscle. His widowed mother could not afford to pay for his college so he joined the Army. Serving 18 months in postwar Europe and seeing the destruction and human suffering left an indelible impression on him. He used the GI Bill to obtain a degree in finance from the University of Southern California. Upon graduation, the highest-level finance job he could obtain was as an entry-level board marker for the Wall Street brokerage firm of Shearson, Hammill & Co., where he was the lowest paid of his co-workers because of his poor handwriting. He finally landed a job as a stockbroker for the regional firm of Hill,

Richards & Co, eventually rising to vice president and office manager. A lifelong risk-taker, Mathewson sought to parlay his success as a stock-broker into owning his own business, but his earliest ventures did not always succeed. A woodworking business in which he invested burnt down. A visionary investment in the new era of frozen foods was lost because of fraudulent accounting. Undaunted and accepting the failures as

opportunities to do better next time, he eventually became a successful cofounder in the pioneering block-trading firm of Jefferies & Company which allowed him to retire at the age of 41. In “retirement,” he continued pursuing his passion for the stock market as a private investor. An investment led him to re-enter the grocery business by serving as the chairman and CEO of the Arden-mayfair supermarket chain. In 1983, after seeing a crowd of people waiting to play video poker, Mathewson invested heavily in International Game Technologies, a slot machine manufacturer and distributor. Two years later, he became a director. The following year, he accepted the company’s president and founder Si Redd’s invitation to chair the board. Under his leadership,

IGT experienced a dramatic period of growth and innovation. From the mid1980s to the mid-90s, it grew from a

small company teetering on bankruptcy to the world’s largest supplier of gaming equipment and a leader in the gaming industry. The company pioneered jackpots that were shared across games and properties, created popular slot themes like Double Diamonds and Red, White, and Blue, and licensed existing brands such as Wheel of Fortune. In 1997, Mathewson was inducted into the American Gaming Association’s Hall of Fame. He stepped down as CEO of IGT in 2000 and retired as Chairman of the Board of IGT in 2003. Mathewson felt tremendous gratitude that Nevada had been very good to him and was honored to give back to the community. He donated generously to a variety of health and educational organizations including the Mathewson-igt Knowledge Center and the Mathewson Gateway projects at

UNR, Nevada Museum of Art, the Reno Discovery Museum, Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Bishop Manogue High School, Bellarmine College Preparatory, Northern Nevada Hopes, Andre Agassi Foundation, and Renown Health, among others. He also supported a non-profit

founded by his wife, Stacie, focusing on behavioral health, addiction, and prevention of trauma for youth. His love for business, bridge, golf, tennis and backgammon were ways for him to connect to those around him. He was a voracious

reader on everything from business and history to philosophy and psychology. There was a charismatic and personable aspect to Chuck Mathewson that is rare in people who achieve his level of accomplishment. He was approachable, always answered his own phone, made himself available to anyone who reached out to him, and he took a genuine interest in the advancement of others. His gentle humor and warm smile put all around him at ease. He is survived by his wife, Stacie Mathewson; five children from

prior marriages: Gail Pauline Ladreyt, Robert Mathewson, Curtis Mathewson, Easter Sullivan, and Miles Mathewson; and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sister, Patricia Zonker, and his brother, Fr. Robert Mathewson, S.J. A private family service will be held at a later date.

JIMMY CONWAY

James (Jimmy) Joseph Conway, 71, passed away on September 17, 2021, after an 18-month battle with cancer. He was born on September 19, 1949, in Dublin, Ireland, and was a 39-year resident of Las Vegas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Christine and Henry Conway, and is survived by his wife, Carmel; his children Audrey (Tommy),

James (Andrea), Ciara (Dermot) and Brian; his grandchildren, Kaleb (Jeri), Neave, Tighe, Fiona, Haley, and Alexis; his brothers Brian (Anita), Harry (Maury), Michael (Brenda), and David (Karen); and his sisters, Maureen (Brendan), Bernadette (Paul), Annette (Gerard), and Karen. A gifted singer and guitarist, Jimmy was a professional musician from the age of sixteen, performing with the Irish beat group The Bye Laws. He later joined the Royal Irish Showband and toured Ireland, England, Canada, and the United States. For over thirty years, the band performed as The Irish Showband on the Las Vegas Strip at the Stardust, Aladdin, and Barbary Coast hotels. Jimmy later became a bartender and manager of an Irish pub, and continued to perform at local venues and family celebrations. An avid sports fan, Jimmy enjoyed playing golf and watching tennis and soccer. Jimmy was a voracious reader and routinely read ten books a week; he loved the Beatles, going to the movies, learning new songs, and spending time with his family and his large circle of devoted friends. Jimmy was loved for his kindness, his unfailing optimism, and his radiant smile. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word. He will be missed every day by the many who loved him.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM on 2021-11-13 at the home of Craig and Marilyn Caples, 3325 West Wigwam Avenue, Las Vegas, NV, USA.