One couple for sure…

Richard & Frances MacDonald

"The Past is History, The Future is a Mystery: Today is a Gift. That's why we call it the Present." Someone once framed these words and gave them to Frances MacDonald because they felt the sentiment reflected the way this dynamic and enthusiastic woman and her husband Richard (Mac) MacDonald first come to Las Vegas in 1958. They were looking for an escape from their east coast allergies, so they make their way west, passing through Arizona and on into California.

It was a Santa Monica bartender who suggested, "Why not give Vegas a try? My first response was, 'What's in Vegas? That's no place for families!'" remembers Frances. "But then again, we were brave—any husband who sets off on a road trip with two little boys and his mother-in-law deserves a medal!" She laughs.

And so it was that the MacDonald family cleared the last pass before descending into Southern Nevada that they looked out onto a tiny patch of glowing lights in the desert and saw the possibilities that laid out before them. "It was finally January of 1959 when we decide for sure we'd pack up from our hometown of Philadelphia and head to Nevada," says Richard.

It didn't take long for the MacDonalds to feel like true Las Vegans. Their first night in Vegas, they were enjoying a 99 cent buffet at the Silver Slipper when they heard a familiar voice at the booth next to them. "Sure enough, it was a neighbor of ours from back home," remembers Frances. "They talked us into going out for the evening and we ended up at the Sands Lounge."

Enjoying the first night out, the MacDonalds were disappointed when told they'd have to leave shortly, as a private party was getting underway. "We were sitting in the back and were unnoticed, so this party got started and there we were, watching everyone from Jack Benny to Frank Sinatra walk into the room," explains Frances. "I even got to talk to Frank—actually, I was so tongue-tied I don't know what came out, but I do remember thinking, 'I like this place…I think we'll fit in beautifully.'"

A beautiful fit it's been.

At first, the MacDonalds found it hard to find a suitable place to live. "All the housing back then was for strip workers," explains Frances. Luckily, the family befriended a postman, who knew the comings and goings of everyone in the neighborhood. "He found a duplex for us—we lived in one side and rented out the other." Thus, the start of their career in real estate. The family later moved to an area off of Desert Inn called "Paradise Palms." "The real estate agent told us Betty Grable and Harry James were moving into the same area," remembers Frances. "We figured if it was good enough for them…"

By 1963, the MacDonalds were firmly ensconced in Southern Nevada, Frances heading up the dining room at the Sahara and Richard working in real estate. While Las Vegas was going great guns in the late '50s and early '60s, there came a slow-down period that had everyone more than a little concerned. "Around 1963, we were seeing whole blocks of house and apartments going back to the bank," remembers Richard.

It was at that time that then-Sahara President Milton Prell suggested the MacDonalds go to Hawaii for a while and wait for the city to rebound. "We did just that," says Richard. "We both went into real estate and ended up buying Las Vegas land from there." During this period, the newly-formed "MacDonald & Associates Realty, Inc." grew to become the largest real estate and investment sales company in Hawaii. It was about the same time that Sam Boyd suggested to the MacDonalds that they check out the area of Southern Nevada valley that is now MacDonald Ranch.

Frances and Richard remember flying to Las Vegas and driving out to visit their property. "At the time, Green Valley Parkway was a power easement that ended at Sunset Road," says Frances. "We would drive along the dusty, rocky path and send our young son Richard out to move the bigger boulders out of the way so we could go through!" Laughs Frances, "I'm sure people were shaking their heads at us, saying "there go the MacDonalds again!"

The MacDonalds finally made Las Vegas their full-time home once again in 1983, and were joined by their oldest son, and his wife, who now work together in the family business. The youngest son Doug is a jazz musician. One of the MacDonald's favorite pastime is to follow their son's appearances.

Frances and Richard say they had to figure out where the valley's growth would happen, and go from there. The Sunset Ridge Professional Plaza, Green Valley Parkway Center, MacDonald Ranch Center, Sundridge, and MacDonald Ranch Country Club are just a few of the well-know developments undertaken by the MacDonald Family. "Las Vegas is still a baby," says Richard. "A high energy baby!"

"We have our jazz buddies, a group of us who enjoy going out on the town to hear different lounge acts. It used to be that everyone was here—Don Rickles, Lionel Hampton, Della Reese, the old-time gamblers who knew how to run a place and they brought the people in."

Like many of the trend-setters of Las Vegas' social scene, the MacDonalds express a sadness in the change-over of the Las Vegas lounge acts. "Everyone use to get dressed up to go out in the evening," says Richard. "Of course, now we have a lot of growth in the arts in terms of the ballet, the symphony and opera. Las Vegas is still "small town" in many good familiar ways—it's still tight knit."

The MacDonalds still enjoy entertaining friends and finding a return to some of the old-style lounge entertainment that made Las Vegas famous. While they travel a bit they say the "good old U.S. of A." is still their favorite place.

"We enjoy Las Vegas," says Frances. "We enjoy our family, our friends and each other. We never look back and we never look forward, we just live for today. That's what makes things happen."