Longtime gaming attorney dies

Services are Monday in Las Vegas for longtime gaming attorney and educator Shannon L. Bybee, who died Thursday.

The director of the International Gaming Institute at the the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Bybee died Thursday at Progressive Hospital. He was 65.

"His professional experience as a gaming regulator and in the gaming industry proved to be enormously valuable to both the students who took classes from him and to the development of the programs and activities in the International Gaming Institute," UNLV President Carol Harter said in a statement.

Bybee was a professor in the university's College of Hotel Administration and served as a visiting professor at the William S. Boyd School of Law.

"Nevada and the gaming industry has lost a pioneer in gaming regulation and integrity," said Nevada Gaming Commission Chairman Pete Bernhard. "His commitment to his family, gaming law and regulation were paramount. We're very grateful for what he gave his community and the state."

Bybee was appointed to a professorship in 1994 after working more than 20 years in the private sector, including stints as president and chief operating officer of United Gaming Inc., chief executive officer and chairman of the board of the Claridge Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, senior vice president of Golden Nugget Inc. and president of Golden Nugget Atlantic City Corp.

Mr. Bybee served on the Gaming Control Board for the state of Nevada for four years beginning in 1971. He was founding member of the International Association of Gaming Attorneys and former president of The Nevada Council on Problem Gambling.

"Shannon's personal integrity and his commitment to helping others was expressed in public service to the community as a member of the Gaming Control Board and as a teacher of young people in his role as professor at UNLV," said Steve Wynn president and CEO of Wynn Resorts, Ltd. in a statement.

He is the topic of the book "Shannon Bybee: Evidence of a Serendipitous Career in Gaming," which was published earlier this year.

Bybee was diagnosed with advanced liver disease and was on a leave of absence. He was honored by the American Gaming Association for his work on problem gambling last year.

Bybee was a 27-year resident of Las Vegas. He was born in Tropic, Utah, on Aug. 29, 1938 and served with the U.S. Army as a military policeman at West Point.

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Bybee is survived by wife Norma Reid Bybee of Las Vegas; sons Sean Patrick of Longport, N.J., and Brendan of San Francisco; son and daughter-in-law Reid and Jennifer Bybee of Egg Harbor Township, N.J.; daughters and sons-in law Kelli and Clint Poll of Layton, Utah, Erin and Joey Belanger of Huntington Beach, Calif.; brothers and sisters-in-law Patrick and Beverly Bybee of Salem, Ore., and Evan and Tamra Bybee of Orem, Utah; and sister and son-in-law Molly and Tom Adams of Absecon, N.J.; and 12 grandchildren.

Visitations are 4-7:59 p.m. today at Palm Mortuary and 9:30-10:30 a.m. Monday at Monte Christo Chapel, both in Las Vegas.

Services are 11 a.m. Monday at Monte Christo Chapel in Las Vegas.

Obituary: Shannon L. Bybee

Staff report

Memorial services for Shannon L. Bybee, executive director of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' International Gaming Institute and a former top casino executive, gambling regulator and lawyer will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Monte Cristo Chapel in Las Vegas.

Mr. Bybee died Sept. 18, 2003, at Progressive Hospital in Las Vegas. He was born Aug. 29, 1938, in Tropic, Utah. He was 65.

Mr. Bybee lived in Las Vegas for the past 27 years.

He was the founding member of the International Association of Gamin Attorneys, former president of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, a member of the Gaming Control Board from 1971-75 and a former U.S. Army military policeman serving at West Point.

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Among his survivors are his wife Norma of Las Vegas, daughters Kelli Poll of Layton, Utah, and Erin Belanger of Huntington Beach, Calif.; and sons Sean of Longport, N.J., Brendan of San Francisco and Reid of Egg harbor Township, N.J.; 12 grandchildren; a sister, Molly Adams of Absecon, N.J.; and brothers Patrick of Salem, Ore., and Evan of Orem, Utah.

Visitation is scheduled for 4-8 p.m. today at Palm Mortuary - Jones and from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Monday at Monte Cristo Chapel.

Palm Mortuary - Jones is in charge of arrangements.