"Mel was well-known for his marketing expertise as executive vice president of Circus Circus properties for 20 years. He was also known throughout the NASCAR community for racing in his early career days and was instrumental in the inception of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mel was in the U.S. Air Force, which sent him to Luke Air Force Base, where he met the love of his life, Marilyn. He then owned and operated a drag strip in the Phoenix area before coming to Las Vegas and joining the Circus Circus team for Bill Bennett."