William S. Boyd recently announced a $25 million gift to the William S. Boyd School of Law, one of the largest private donations ever pledged to the university.

“I am so proud of what the Boyd School of Law at UNLV has accomplished in such a short time,” says Boyd, who is chairman and chief executive officer of Boyd Gaming Corp. “The school is creating opportunities for Nevada’s young people that were not possible a decade ago. My gift … will help to make sure the school continues its success and has a bright future for many years to come.”

Boyd was a statewide advocate for creating the law school and, in 1997, provided the initial $5 million for its creation. Funds from the latest gift will support professorships, chairs, scholarships, and ancillary educational opportunities for students and faculty.

“A gift of this magnitude rarely comes along for any school, and for it to come from the person who played one of the largest roles in the law school’s creation demonstrates Bill’s tremendous confidence in the program,” says Richard Morgan, dean of the law school.

Morgan attributes much of the school’s success to the public-private partnerships it formed with community members like Boyd, Jim Rogers, the Thomas and Mack families, and Sonja, ’78 BA and ’82 MA Psychology, and Michael Saltman. While state funding makes the program accessible to students, Morgan says, private support is the catalyst for excellence.

Boyd practiced law in Las Vegas for more than 15 years before beginning a full-time career in the gaming industry. He and his father, Sam Boyd, were among the partners in Union Plaza Hotel & Casino and the Eldorado Casino. They co-founded Boyd Gaming and opened its first property, the California Hotel and Casino, in January 1975.