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Don Barden Hosts 5th Annual Black History |
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Thursday, 15 March 2007 |
LOS ANGELES
By Lea Michelle Cash
Don Barden, the man with a huge dream to own a Casino &
Hotel in Las Vegas
had his dream come true in December 2001.
That is when Barden acquired the struggling 34 stories and 360-feet tall
Fitzgerald Casino & Hotel, located at the east end of the Fremont Street. What makes this man so extraordinary is a
stellar business career that spans over 40 years. Mr. Barden is recognized as one of the top
Black entrepreneurs in the country. He has guided Barden Companies and its
affiliates from earnings of $600,000 to 2005 revenues of more than $519
million, making it one of the largest African American-owned businesses in the
country.
 Don Barden and his family.
Then in 1999, he sold his 51% interest in NovaNet Learning,
Inc. a computer-based interactive educational software company.
In 1994 when Barden Development, Inc. was granted a
Certificate of Suitability for a license to own and operate a Riverboat Casino
in Gary, Indiana,
The Majestic Star Casino, he opened two years later with big dreams on June 11,
1996, with 932 slot machines and 50 table games. One year later, Barden launched a $50 million
gambling vessel to replace his existing casino.
The new Majestic Star contained 43,000 square feet of casino gambling on
three decks, making it among the five largest gaming vessels on U.S.
water. And it gets better. Over the next decade, Barden the ninth child
of 13 children, educated in the public school system of Inkster,
Michigan, has purchased five Casino &
Hotels, one of them being Trump Indiana,
now called Majestic Star II.
Barden is the first African American in this country to
wholly own a national casino gaming company.
All five casinos combined have approximately 6000 slots, 185 table
games, 1,40 hotel rooms and approximately 4,000 employees.
It is just unbelievable what one man has accomplished in his
business career.
He has received numerous awards, one being "The Company of
the Year" by Black Enterprise Magazine and in 2004 Barden received the Trumpet
Award presented by Turner Broadcasting Systems for enormous contributions in
business.
For the last five years, Barden has hosted a VIP Black
History Month celebration for his family and friends. This four day celebration begins on a
Thursday and ends on Sunday.
The celebrities that appeared this year for Barden's special
event were Smokey Robinson, Jackee Harry, Dionne Warwick, Judge Mablean
Ephriam, Alaina Reed-Hall, Telma Hopkins, Obba Babatunde, Earl Billings,
Meschach and Richard Larson. A private
special performance was provided by Ashford & Simpson. Last year it was Frankie Beverly & Maze.
Barden also during this weekend celebration presented
outstanding achievement community awards to local Las Vegas
citizens and hosted an education summit with the elementary school that he has
adopted in Las Vegas.
Several youth celebrities attended this affair like Kyle Massey (That's so
Raven) and Camille Winbush (Bernie Mac).
This year Marc Davis attended. He
is the 16 year old, youngest Black driver on the Joe Gibbs Racing Team. He soon
will be competing in the 2007 NASCAR Grand National Division Busch East Series.
The very handsome 16 year old has placed 20 times in the top ten NASCAR Dodge
Weekly Series. Davis
has won several national titles in both the dirt and road course.
This year several elementary school students received large
cash awards and savings bonds for presenting award winning essays featuring a
Black History Month theme. And public relations executive, Pat Tobin received
an award for her outstanding contribution to Barden Companies, Inc.
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