Boyd, William S., 1931-

Bill Boyd practiced law in Las Vegas for more than fifteen years and was a partner with his father, among others, in the Union Plaza Hotel & Casino and the Eldorado Casino. In 1973, Bill Boyd and his father co-founded Boyd Gaming Corporation, openings its first property, the California Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas, in January 1975. At that time, Bill left the practice of law and began his full-time career in the gaming industry. After his father passed away in January 1993, Bill succeeded him as Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming, and led the Company's initial expansion across the United States. He served as CEO until January 2008, when he was succeeded by current Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith.

In addition to his work at Boyd Gaming, Bill has been an active philanthropist and civic leader for decades. He was on the Board of Directors of the Las Vegas Downtown Progress Association, is past president of the Better Business Bureau of Southern Nevada and the Nevada Resort Association, and is President Emeritus of the National Council on Responsible Gaming. Bill also served on the Board of Directors of Nevada State Bank for 20 years and founded the Bank of Nevada. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Bank of Nevada parent company Western Alliance Bancorporation.

Bill Boyd has been a donor to numerous non-profit organizations, including the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV is named in his honor, in recognition of the $30 million he contributed to the school's funding. Bill holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a law degree from the University of Utah. He is also a veteran of the United States Army, serving from 1953 to 1955. Bill is the father of three children, and all three children are involved in the family business.

Source:

"Company History - Executives," Boyd Gaming Corporation, last modified 2020, https://www.boydgaming.com/about-boyd-gaming/company-history