▁losing ▁re - e lection ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 8 . ▁Wies ner ▁was ▁also ▁an ▁owner ▁of ▁the ▁Marina ▁Hotel , ▁which ▁later ▁became ▁the ▁M GM ▁Grand ▁resort . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 6 , ▁Wies ner ▁was ▁elected ▁as ▁Nev ada ' s ▁Republican ▁National ▁Comm itte eman , ▁a ▁position ▁he ▁held ▁until ▁his ▁death . ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 6 , ▁Wies ner ▁was ▁also ▁elected ▁to ▁the ▁Nev ada ▁State ▁High er ▁Education ▁System ▁Board ▁of ▁Reg ents . ▁Wies ner ▁also ▁founded ▁Big ▁Dog ' s ▁Hospital ity ▁Group , ▁a ▁local ▁chain ▁of ▁restaurant - bar - cas ino ▁properties . ▁Wies ner ▁was ▁induct ed ▁into ▁the ▁Southern ▁Nev ada ▁Hall ▁of ▁Sports ▁Fame ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 0 , ▁and ▁later ▁died ▁of ▁le uk emia ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 2 . ▁He ▁was ▁post hum ously ▁induct ed ▁into ▁the ▁U W ▁Athlet ic ▁Hall ▁of ▁Fame ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 8 . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁Wies ner ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁W aus au , ▁Wisconsin , ▁on ▁February ▁ 2 8 , ▁ 1 9 3 9 . ▁He ▁was ▁the ▁son ▁of ▁Frank ▁Wies ner , ▁and ▁had ▁six ▁brothers . ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁the ▁family ▁re located ▁to ▁Ne en ah , ▁Wisconsin , ▁near ▁Lake ▁Win ne b ago . ▁Wies ner ▁graduated ▁from ▁Ne en ah ▁High ▁School ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 7 . ▁