Joe Dini
Joseph E. Dini, Jr. was a Nevada state assemblyman, casino owner, from Yerington, Nevada. In 1996 Dini was ranked the tenth most influential Nevadan in a survey conducted by the Las Vegas Sun, a list that included Steve Wynn, Bill Raggio, then Governor Bob Miller and former Governor Mike O'Callaghan.
Political career
Dini was elected to the state assembly, in 1967 and served until 2001 in four special sessions and eighteen regular sessions, making him the longest serving assemblyman in Nevada history. He served as the Speaker of the Assembly for eight sessions at various times between 1977 and 1999, the most sessions in Nevada Assembly history. At one point later in his political career he considered running for Governor of the State of Nevada, but did not. Dini also served as Majority Floor Leader in 1975. He was added to the Assembly Wall of Distinction in recognition of his many years of service in the State Assembly and as Speaker of the Assembly.He died at a hospital in Reno, Nevada on April 10, 2014.