Kirk Kerkorian’s death made Ralph Lamb ‘overwhelmingly’ sad
Ralph Lamb, one tough cowboy, may have died of a broken heart.
Lamb, 88, died three weeks after the death of his best friend, Kirk Kerkorian.
“I could see it was an overwhelming sadness. I’ve never seen him like that before,” said Alda Lanzone, Lamb’s personal assistant and caretaker for the past four years.
The legendary lawman, who was credited with standing up to the mob along with some other rough characters, died Friday at MountainView Hospital, 18 days after the death of his longtime friend.
Kerkorian, known as the father of megaresorts, died June 15.
They met in the late 1950s. Lamb was building a reputation as a hard-nosed deputy sheriff. Kerkorian, a top West Coast amateur boxer, later went toe-to-toe with iconic billionaire Howard Hughes.
Lamb rose to sheriff, and Kerkorian took over where Hughes left off.
A year ago, Lanzone heard Lamb on the telephone, wishing the MGM lion a happy birthday.
“Kirk got choked up and I heard him tell Ralph, ‘You’re my best friend.’ ”
When Kerkorian died, “the sadness was palpable,” said Lanzone. “He was very quiet. I couldn’t rouse him out of it.”
Lanzone met Lamb during a bartending shift four years ago on an Easter Sunday at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse on Paradise Road.
She welcomed him and he joined her at the bar.
During their conversation, Lamb mentioned he had a driver.
Lanzone learned through mutual friend Kevin Buckley that Lamb was legally blind and looking for an assistant.
Buckley was aware Lanzone had been a caretaker for her parents and they came to the conclusion she should interview for the job.
She went to work for Lamb and continued to moonlight as a bartender.
My friendship with Lamb grew out of an article I did on his 84th birthday. A Metro SWAT team made a surprise visit to a local residence when they learned the former sheriff was there celebrating his birthday. They got what they wanted: a group photo with the living legend.
Lamb had his own language, a language straight out of the old West.
One night I asked him if he had any run-ins with mob hitman Tony Spilotro, who terrorized Las Vegas in the 1970s and ’80s.
“He was the nearest to nothing of anyone I ever knew,” said Lamb.
Lanzone said the old cowboy had an afternoon ritual.
“He’d have a martini and call his friends. He called people everyday. It was probably the highlight of his day,” she said.
One of my favorite Lamb tales: He was visiting Benny Binion’s cattle ranch near Jordan, Mont.
Lamb was told two ranch hands had disappeared a couple days earlier with a truckload of high-priced breeding stock.
Lamb did some quick on-the-spot detective work, drove to Billings, Mont., and flew to Texas.
When the rustlers pulled up in front of their place, Lamb was standing there, waiting.
The service for Lamb will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3440 W. Charleston Blvd.
MISS NEVADA DETAILS
Kentucky-reared Miss Nevada Katherine Kelley passed all the residency eligibility requirements before entering the local Miss American Organization competition.
“We are committed to preserving the integrity of our organization, and prior to competing, Ms. Kelley verified her eligibility,” said Jodi Fonfa, the new executive director of Miss Nevada Organization, via email.
She replaced Amy Hacker, whose reign was marred by a scoring irregularity scandal that resulted in two co-winners being named.
Nevada’s beauty pageants have come under deeper scrutiny after an increase in pageant “hoppers” in recent years.
Fonfa said Kelley, who won the Miss Nevada title last Saturday at The Smith Center, “unequivocally” met all Nevada eligibility requirements.
Fonfa said Kelley, 23, established Nevada as her primary state of residency by securing a Nevada driver’s license, which was issued August 1, 2014, and filing taxes in Nevada.
Kelley has been a graduate student at UNLV since August.
“Additionally, she is a full-time employee of AmeriCorps, and works at Mojave High School and has been since August 2014,” wrote Fonfa.
Meeting all those requirements made Kelley eligible to compete as Nevada’s ambassador in the Miss America pageant Sept. 13 in Atlantic City.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Actor, comedian and sports personality Jay Mohr, who caught heat for fat-shaming Danica Patrick and Alyssa Milano, will likely be hearing from Japanese nuclear victims groups. After the U.S. women’s national soccer team defeated Germany on Thursday in the women’s World Cup semifinals, Mohr tweeted: “#USWNT beats Germany. Next up Japan. Tell Harry Truman to get the paperwork ready.” Mohr was referring to President Truman’s authorization to bomb the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima in 1945, which led to the end of World War II.
SIGHTINGS
Khloe Kardashian and Houston Rockets star James Harden, spotted in a cabana at Encore Beach Club on Saturday. Rumer Willis, sporting a red, white and blue bikini while partying with friends at Encore Beach Club. … Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, drinking vodka Red Bulls on Friday while hanging out on the stage at XS (Encore at Wynn). … Paris Hilton, with boyfriend Thomas Gross and friends at Tao Asian Bistro (Venetian) on Friday. Also at Tao: “Dancing with the Stars” All-Stars champion Melissa Rycroft and husband Tye Strickland, with most of the cast from “Dancing with the Stars Live! Perfect Ten Tour.” …
NFL rookies Melvin Gordon of the San Diego Chargers, Trae Waynes of the Minnesota Vikings and Jay Ajayi of the Miami Dolphins, dining together at the Andiamo Italian Steakhouse (the D) on Thursday. Waynes and Gordon were first-round picks. Their beverage of choice during dinner: water and lemonade. … Baltimore Ravens star Terrell Suggs, with friends at Tao (Venetian) on Thursday. Also at Tao: Carolina Panthers tight end Ed Dixon with a group of teammates. … Dining together at Pasta Shop Ristorante on Thursday: Showtime boxing analyst Al Bernstein and Harrah’s comedy magician headliner Mac King.
THE PUNCH LINE
“In Oregon, you can have up to eight ounces of pot in your home. Let’s be honest. Most guys in Portland have that much pot in the beards.” — Jimmy Kimmel
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more at normclarke.com. Follow @Norm_Clarke on Twitter. He also appears on KTNV-Channel 13’s “Morning Blend” on Thursdays.