Former Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn was laid to rest Tuesday in Las Vegas after a funeral service attended by more than 1,000 mourners.
Guinn, 73, died July 22 after falling off the roof of his house, where he was doing maintenance work. It is believed he suffered a medical event such as a heart attack or aneurysm.
The moderate Republican served two terms as Nevada’s governor, from 1999 to 2007.
He was eulogized as a consensus builder whose warm personality helped broker compromises in Carson City, the state capital.
Guinn was the key figure in putting together a deal to solve a state budget crisis in 2003, which included $833 million in taxes that drew criticism from many of his fellow Republicans.
He is also known for the creation of the Millennium Scholarship program, financed with the proceeds from the state’s share of the national legal settlement against tobacco companies.
Guinn entered the public eye in 1969 at age 32 when he was named superintendent of the Clark County School District serving the Las Vegas area. He held the job until 1978, then went on to serve as a bank and business executive before winning election as governor in 1998.
