E. Parry Thomas

Edward Parry Thomas (June 29, 1921 – August 26, 2016) was an American banker who helped finance the development of the casino industry of Las Vegas, Nevada.

[2][3] He facilitated loans from the Teamsters Central States Pension Fund to Las Vegas casinos.

[7] With Jerry Mack, Thomas lobbied influential Nevada businessman Bill Harrah as well as former Governors Grant Sawyer and Paul Laxalt to pass two acts legalizing the corporate ownership of casinos.

[3] According to Mack's daughter Karen, these laws aimed to put an end to corruption in Las Vegas, as it enforced more regulations and disclosures for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

[7] With Jerry Mack, Thomas donated 400 additional acres of land to expand the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).

[3] The two men also funded the construction of the basketball stadium at UNLV, which was named the Thomas & Mack Center in their honor.

[10] Two of his sons, Peter and Tom, manage Thomas & Mack, the family real estate development firm in Las Vegas.