E. Parry Thomas

Who is E. Parry Thomas?

E. Parry Thomas is a now-retired American banker who helped finance the development of the casino industry of Las Vegas, Nevada. Along with his business partner, Jerry Mack, Parry Thomas is credited with building Las Vegas into what it is today. He was born in Ogden, Utah.

Thomas worked for Continental Bank & Trust Co. of Salt Lake City. Walter Cosgriff, who headed that bank, also owned a stake in the Bank of Las Vegas, which opened in 1954. The Las Vegas bank was struggling, so Cosgriff sent Thomas to find out whether it should be closed. Thomas was enthusiastic about the potential and ended up assigned to work in Las Vegas full-time.