Wollman, Murray

Businessman Murray Wollman (1894-1976) was a significant contributor to the development of Las Vegas, Nevada and its establishment as a tourist destination. Before moving to Las Vegas in 1934, Wollman was a manager of the Alexandria Hotel in Los Angeles, California. He purchased the Golden Hotel at Fourth and Fremont Streets in Las Vegas and renamed it the Wollman Hotel. Along with local civic leaders, Wollman formulated a publicity campaign for the city through the Chamber of Commerce, and used his connections (including Union Pacific public relations director Bob Denton) to gain national press attention. Wollman later owned the Bar-W Ranch in Paradise Valley and developed large parcels of vacant land into housing and business areas in the Las Vegas Valley after World War II. He was also prominent in the organization and construction of the first Jewish Community Center in Las Vegas.