Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, as the child of hardworking Russian/Jewish immigrants, tough times coupled with the Depression just couldn’t keep him down or from chasing after his dreams, which eventually brought him to Las Vegas a half-century ago.
Art Marshall, chairman of BankWest of Nevada, Nevada Gaming Commission member, and a remarkably successful business and community leader, over five decades has blazed a pioneering trail for the better in the landscape of Southern Nevada.
"My dear mother was an exceptional woman. My Dad was quite a guy. He was a tinsmith and also hardworking. He worked hard, but he did not get lucky. I got lucky," states the gentle, humble, also hardworking Marshall.
In the early 1950s, Marshall became involved in the automobile business and indeed was quite successful as a young salesman. In 1953, he met his wife Jayn, his bride of 51 glorious years. Her uncle ran a company called Bobbie Brooks, one of the largest manufacturers of women’s sportswear in America. He offered Marshall a job as a salesman, which took him from Ohio to Michigan in 1954.
"In 1955, my father-in-law opened up a small store called Sara’s of Las Vegas. He later retired. My brother-in-law Herb Rousso and I took it over in 1959. We added a second and third store. In 1964, we were able to get the ladies shop at the Sahara. We called it Maru, our first hotel store. It was a young attorney and good friend for many years, Bill Boyd, who helped introduce us to the Sahara."
The Marshall Rousso stores expanded to the Sands, MGM Grand, Caesars Palace, Harrah’s and the airport for a total of eight stores. In 1995, Marshall’s son Todd took over Marshall Rousso and rapidly grew them into over 50 locations nationwide.
"I’ve always loved antiques and automobiles. One winter, Herb and I went to London and we saw this marvelous ‘51 Rolls-Royce sedan and bought it and brought it back to Las Vegas. I made the mistake of showing it to my good friend, Red Skelton. He owned a bunch of Rolls-Royces. He said, let me drive it. I said sure. I made it clear, the car was not for sale. Two hours later, Red had delivered a check for the car." Marshall also briefly owned the Rolls-Royce dealership of Las Vegas in the mid-1970s.
"In the mid-1990s, my son Todd got a call from Don Snyder, the president of Boyd Gaming, and Don told me Bill Boyd wanted to start a bank. Bill Boyd later asked me to be the chairman. We’ve had a remarkable 11 years. We went from our original $8 million investment and now are close to $2.5 billion. I attribute it to our top relationship banking and in building personal relationships. We have such a great team with Larry Woodrum, Jack Wallace and Selma Bartlett and the rest of our company. BankWest also just signed on as a major sponsor with the Las Vegas Monorail."
Marshall has contributed greatly to the Las Vegas community. He’s served as president of the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas and on the board of (PERS) Public Employees’ Retirement System, just a few of the dozens of boards and organizations he’s helped.
Art Marshall, business, community and entrepreneurial leader, is living proof through hard work and strong determination, the American dream is alive and well. Even the longshots, like the hardworking kid from Cleveland who now sits at the helm of one of the fastest-growing, multi-billion-dollar banks in America.
********** For the latest in Las Vegas luxury real estate: **********
For a free VIP membership to my personal Las Vegas luxury real estate web site where you can search from over 23,000 Las Vegas homes and condos, Click here for more at www.jimb.lasvegasfinehomes.com.
"May all of your Las Vegas Dreams come true." - Jim Bickford
In the early 1950s, Marshall became involved in the automobile business and indeed was quite successful as a young salesman. In 1953, he met his wife Jayn, his bride of 51 glorious years. Her uncle ran a company called Bobbie Brooks, one of the largest manufacturers of women’s sportswear in America. He offered Marshall a job as a salesman, which took him from Ohio to Michigan in 1954.
For a free VIP membership to my personal Las Vegas luxury real estate web site where you can search from over 23,000 Las Vegas homes and condos, Click here for more at 