Ray Hagar: John Ascuaga a visionary, intelligent gaming pioneer (Voices)
This was when the Nugget was across the avenue from in which it is now. It was a 60-seat restaurant with some slot equipment.
Ascuaga, in his early 30s, ran the place, but it was owned by one more Nevada gaming legend, Dick Graves.
I was just a little child, 5 or 6. My Mother had brought my brother and me to the Nugget in downtown Sparks for dinner. It was a very well known place. Ascuaga would make the rounds and greet people in the cafe. He was personable. Everyone preferred him: quick in stature but a giant character.
He allow us phone him “Johnny” and carried a walkie-talkie on his hip. He would place it up to my ear and allow me chat into it. I was thrilled. Just about every time we
