Jeffery Silver oral history interview (OH-03932)

Oral history interview with Jeffery Silver conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on November 14 and 25, 2024 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Silver recalls his childhood in Beverly Hills, California before his family relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada when Silver was in the fourth grade. His father worked with Tony Cornero at The Stardust Hotel and the family lived in a Francisco Park duplex. Silver attended various local schools, eventually graduating from Las Vegas High School in the same class with Bruce Woodbury and Gardner Jolley. Silver graduated from Northwestern University with an accounting degree, and attended the University of San Diego School of Law. Upon returning to Las Vegas, he joined the accounting firm Laventhol and Horwath (L&H), and at age 22 became Nevada's youngest person to pass the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. Governor Mike O'Callaghan appointed Silver to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, a position that utilized his legal and accounting expertise.

In two interview sessions, Silver describes the three times Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal came before the Board and was ultimately denied licenses--the third and final time occurred after Silver's term. He also recalls his legal career with the firm Lionel Sawyer Collins, Nevada's North/South power struggle, his relationship with Oscar Goodman, The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement (The Mob Museum), his work at The Landmark (1979-1983) during the Wolfram/Tickel era of ownership, his work at the Riviera (ca. 1983-1984) under owner Meshulam Riklis, his short stint at Caesars World (1984), and his various law partnerships over his 50 years of practice. He also discusses health issues, retirement, charitable organizations, and concludes with his 2020 induction into the Gaming Hall of Fame and being introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and CEO and President of MGM Resorts International, William Hornbuckle. Digital audio and photographs available; no transcript available.