{{Short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Joseph E. Dini, Jr. | honorific_suffix = | image = Joe Dini.jpg | state_assembly = Nevada <!--Can be repeated up to seven times by adding a number, start at 3--> | district = 38th <!--Can be repeated up to seven times by adding a number, start at 3--> | term_start = 1967<!--Can be repeated up to seven times by adding a number, start at 3--> | term_end = 2001<!--Can be repeated up to seven times by adding a number, start at 3--> | preceded = <!--Can be repeated up to seven times by adding a number, start at 3--> | succeeded = <!--Can be repeated up to seven times by adding a number, start at 3--> | birth_date = {{Birth date|1929|3|28}} | birth_place = Yerington, Nevada | death_date = {{Death date and age|2014|4|10|1929|3|28}} | death_place = Reno, Nevada | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | birth_name = | party = Democratic | spouse = Mouryne Landing Dini | children = Jay, George, David, Michael | alma_mater = University of Nevada | occupation = Casino Owner | profession = | cabinet = | committees = | portfolio = | signature = }}
'''Joseph E. Dini, Jr.''' (March 28, 1929 – April 10, 2014) was a Nevada state assemblyman, casino owner, from Yerington, Nevada.<ref name="sun">{{Cite news | last = Henry | first = Larry | last2 = German | first2 = Jeff | title = Old power meets new power in Nevada politics | newspaper = Las Vegas Sun | date = June 15, 1996 | url = http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/1996/jun/15/old-power-meets-new-power-in-nevada-politics/}}</ref> In 1996 Dini was ranked the tenth most influential Nevadan in a survey conducted by the ''Las Vegas Sun'', a list that included Steve Wynn, Bill Raggio, then Governor Bob Miller and former Governor Mike O'Callaghan.<ref name="sun"/>
==Political career== Dini was elected to the state assembly, (which includes Lyon County, Storey County and parts of Carson City) in 1967 and served until 2001 in four special sessions and eighteen regular sessions, making him the longest serving assemblyman in Nevada history.<ref name="gov">{{cite web|publisher=Nevada Legislature|title=Legislative Biography -- 71st (2001) Session|url=http://www.leg.state.nv.us/71st/Legislators/Assembly/DiniJr.cfm|accessdate=February 9, 2009}}</ref> He served as the Speaker of the Assembly for eight sessions at various times between 1977 and 1999, the most sessions in Nevada Assembly history.<ref name="list">{{cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Assembly/Speakers%20of%20the%20Nevada%20Assembly%20(1864-2007).pdf|title=Speakers of the Nevada Assembly 1864 through 2007|format=PDF|accessdate=February 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611222452/http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Assembly/Speakers%20of%20the%20Nevada%20Assembly%20(1864-2007).pdf|archive-date=June 11, 2011|url-status=dead}}.</ref> At one point later in his political career he considered running for Governor of the State of Nevada, but did not.<ref name="recover">{{cite news |title=Assembly speaker recovering |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1998/aug/28/assembly-speaker-recovering/ |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=28 August 1998}}</ref> Dini also served as Majority Floor Leader in 1975. He was added to the Assembly Wall of Distinction (established by the Assembly of the Legislature of the State of Nevada to recognize members who have served with great distinction and made exemplary contributions to the State of Nevada) in recognition of his many years of service in the State Assembly and as Speaker of the Assembly.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.leg.state.nv.us/73rd/bills/AR/AR7_EN.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=February 9, 2009|title=Assembly Resolution No. 7–Assemblymen}}</ref>
He died at a hospital in Reno, Nevada on April 10, 2014.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chereb |first1=Sandra |title=Joe Dini, longtime Nevada Assembly speaker, dies at age 85 |url=http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/d5bb5a8eebef4daa9426743c637b7f92/NV--Obit-Dini |work=Associated Press |agency=The Republic |date=10 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413124711/http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/d5bb5a8eebef4daa9426743c637b7f92/NV--Obit-Dini |archive-date=13 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hagar |first1=Ray |title=600 pack gym to remember Nevada's Joe Dini |url=https://eu.rgj.com/story/news/2014/04/15/pack-gym-remember-nevadas-joe-dini/7753737/ |work=Reno Gazette-Journal |date=15 April 2014 |location=Yerington, NV}}</ref>
==Dini's Lucky Club== {{main|Dini's Lucky Club}} In 1960 Joe Dini, Jr. purchased Dini's Lucky Club (then one of two casinos in Yerington, Nevada)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buckley |first=Chris |date=2023-10-27 |title=Dini's Lucky Club in Yerington Celebrates 90 Years Saturday |url=https://www.2news.com/news/local/dinis-lucky-club-in-yerington-celebrates-90-years-saturday/article_d8b6b056-74e6-11ee-a345-2b7be623aba4.html |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=2 News Nevada |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=ncs-import |title=8-time Assembly speaker Dini dies |url=http://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/2014/apr/10/8-time-assembly-speaker-dini-dies/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=www.nevadaappeal.com |language=en}}</ref> from his father Giuseppe "Joe" Dini, Sr., who had opened the now self-proclaimed "oldest family owned casino in Nevada" in 1933 under the name the Wooden Shoe Club.<ref name="dinis">{{cite web|url=http://www.dinisluckyclub.net/|title=Dini's Lucky Club|accessdate=February 9, 2009}}</ref> The casino has been owned by his sons George and Jay since 2007 with Joe Dini Jr. formerly sitting as "chairman emeritus".<ref name="lawmaker">{{cite news |last1=Riley |first1=Brendan |title=Former State lawmaker Dini gains position |url=http://www.lvrj.com/business/9351571.html |work=Associated Press |agency=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=24 August 2007 |location=Carson City, NV |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319155514/www.lvrj.com/business/9351571.html |archive-date=19 March 2012}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dini, Joe}} Category:1929 births Category:2014 deaths Category:People from Yerington, Nevada Category:University of Nevada, Reno alumni Category:Businesspeople from Nevada Category:American businesspeople in the casino industry Category:Deaths from diabetes in the United States Category:Speakers of the Nevada Assembly Category:Democratic Party members of the Nevada Assembly Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:20th-century members of the Nevada Legislature