Described as crusader
Fiery tabloid publisher Ralph Petillo died Friday at a local hospital. He was 78.
"He was always working," said Etta Cortez, an assistant editor for the weekly Casino News, which Petillo published.
Petillo had a heart attack while working late on the current issue of the publication. He was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center where he died.
"He was a crusader for what we perceive is the underdog," said Murray Rosner, who is an occasional columnist for the Casino News.
"Petillo would provide a forum for anyone who felt they had a statement to make about what is wrong with society."
Since he moved to Las Vegas in 1966, Petillo published entertainment tabloids on casinos, betting and sports commentary, and adult entertainment.
Previously a racehorse owner and nightclub operator in New York City and Miami, Petillo began Las Vegas' first weekly tabloid, the Panorama.
He later began the Las Vegas Mirror and the Casino News.
Cortez said Petillo picked the winners of the Kentucky Derby for three consecutive years.
Petillo was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Dec. 10, 1914. He was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Depression.
He is survived by his sons, Jamie of Las Vegas and Bruce of Yorba Linda, Calif.; and daughters, Melanie, Emily and Suzette of Las Vegas and Barbara of New York.
Bunker Mortuary is handling the arrangements, which are pending.
Described as crusader
Fiery tabloid publisher Ralph Petillo died Friday at a local hospital. He was 78.
"He was always working," said Etta Cortez, an assistant editor for the weekly Casino News, which Petillo published.
Petillo had a heart attack while working late on the current issue of the publication. He was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center where he died.
"He was a crusader for what we perceive is the underdog," said Murray Rosner, who is an occasional columnist for the Casino News.
"Petillo would provide a forum for anyone who felt they had a statement to make about what is wrong with society."
Since he moved to Las Vegas in 1966, Petillo published entertainment tabloids on casinos, betting and sports commentary, and adult entertainment.
Previously a racehorse owner and nightclub operator in New York City and Miami, Petillo began Las Vegas' first weekly tabloid, the Panorama.
He later began the Las Vegas Mirror and the Casino News.
Cortez said Petillo picked the winners of the Kentucky Derby for three consecutive years.
Petillo was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Dec. 10, 1914. He was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Depression.
He is survived by his sons, Jamie of Las Vegas and Bruce of Yorba Linda, Calif.; and daughters, Melanie, Emily and Suzette of Las Vegas and Barbara of New York.
Bunker Mortuary is handling the arrangements, which are pending.
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