Loveman Steps Up

As reported by the Boston Herald: "Despite reigning over one of the world's largest gambling empires, Boston's own Gary Loveman – a former Harvard professor who quietly lives in the suburbs – has managed to stay relatively anonymous.

"That is, until the disaster that was Katrina upended the nation's economy, flattened two Harrah's casinos in Mississippi and left a third stranded in a flooded New Orleans.

"And Loveman, as head of gambling behemoth Harrah's Entertainment, has stepped out of the background – and into the media spotlight – to become the kindly public face of a suddenly compassionate casino industry.

"He has pledged to spend some of his company's huge gambling trove to pay for an impressive array of good works, from turning part of a casino into a relief center to three months of pay for employees of a trio of now-shuttered Harrah's gambling halls.

"Other Vegas gambling czars with casinos on the battered Gulf Coast have been less outspoken.

"…While other casino giants have aimed for the flashy high-rollers, Harrah's has made a fortune bringing casino gambling to middle-class patrons in cities and towns across the country.

"… Loveman's plans also call for winning permission from Mississippi's governor to open a ``temporary' casino…"