Ex-casino company chief dies of cancer at age 61

John Kell Houssels III, whose family was one of the gaming industry’s earliest pioneers, died last week at the age of 61 after a three-year battle with brain cancer.

Houssels, who was known as Kell, followed his father and grandfather into the casino business, helping move Showboat Inc. beyond its roots with the Showboat downtown at the intersection where Fremont Street becomes the Boulder Highway to opening Showboat casinos in Atlantic City and Sydney, Australia.

Under his tenure, Showboat also added casinos in Indiana and New Orleans.

Houssels served as a board member, president and chief executive officer of Showboat, until the company was acquired by Harrah’s Entertainment — now Caesars Entertainment — in 1998.

“It’s really a shame, but he did so much in just a short life,” said attorney Gregg Nasky, who spent 15 years on the company’s board of directors. “He was so committed to Showboat in anything he was doing. He helped carry on the Houssels name with honor and dignity.”

His grandfather, John Kell Houssels Sr., turned a small card room on Fremont Street into a gambling club, eventually operating various gaming businesses. His father, J. Kell Houssels Jr., took over the small Showboat casino in 1959, added bowling and a hotel tower and expanded the property’s footprint.

The Showboat Las Vegas, which was renamed Castaways in 2000, was imploded in 2006.

Kell Houssels, who was born in Las Vegas, earned an undergraduate degree from Yale University and an MBA from the University of Southern California, became a certified public accountant with Arthur Anderson before opening his own consulting business.

After joining Showboat, he helped develop the property in Atlantic City and the hotel-casino in Sydney.

He served as president of the Atlantic City Showboat, where he met his wife, Jennifer, a casino entertainer. They were married in 1996.

“Kell was intelligent and enthusiastic,” said Nasky, who now lives in Honolulu. “I used to think I was a workaholic until I met Kell. He was dedicated to his job.”

Nasky also noted Houssels’ devotion to music. He was an accomplished musician.

He is survived by his wife, Jennifer; his father and his wife, Nancy Houssels; siblings Josh, Kelly and Eric; and nephew, Dane.

Kell Houssels spent the past three years living in Los Angeles and being treated at the UCLA Neurology Research Center for glioblastoma.

Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. today at the Gates Kingsley Mortuary Chapel, 1925 Arizona Ave., Santa Monica, Calif. 90404.

The family asks that contributions in honor of John Kell Houssels III be sent to Dr. Linda Liau, UCLA Neurology Research for Glioblastoma.