A tribute to Felix Rappaport

June 23, 2018 5:00 PM
  • Mark Wayman
June 23, 2018 5:00 PM

(Editor’s note: Last week’s sudden passing of Foxwoods CEO Felix Rappaport brought an out-pouring of love from throughout the gaming industry. One of his closest friends, gaming executive search consultant Mark Wayman penned this tribute for CDC Gaming Reports)

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Felix Rappaport was one of the best people I ever met. I was blessed and honored to call him “friend.”  We used to meet at the Luxor regularly for coffee and talk about life.  Everyone loved Felix – the employees, the customers, the vendors. He would stop the guy sweeping the carpet and say, “Hey, tell Mark that horse story you shared with me.”  We would sit for an hour or two swapping stories, and I never left without a smile on my face.  Felix made you feel special; he treated the CEO the same as the Janitor.

As a casino executive, he was always on the floor shaking hands and kissing babies. He worked harder and longer than everyone else. He could rattle off numbers and percentages and was an expert on every aspect of his property.

Felix was a legend in the casino industry.  Most recently the CEO with Foxwoods for the last six years. Prior to that, 14 years in the MGM Mirage organization. President of the Mirage for two years, President of the Luxor and Excalibur for five years and President of New York, New York for another five years.

When he left MGM Resorts I was honored to represent him for his next career opportunity. He interviewed for the COO job with Foxwoods and nailed it. When CEO Scott Butera left the next year, Felix was promoted to CEO, a testament to the great job he did with Foxwoods. No small feat in a Northeast crowded with new casinos. RIP my Brother.