Casino news source: Sun Herald - http://www.sunherald.com
Casino GM to retire, leave Coast
Health reasons prompted move
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com
BAY ST. LOUIS --John Jagunich is leaving his job as general manager of Hollywood Bay St. Louis and the Coast to recover from chronic health problems he has suffered since Hurricane Katrina.
After 30 years in the hotel and casino industry, his retirement is effective July 31. "It was all my decision," said Jagunich, who insisted employees and guests call him J.J.
Jagunich will move to his home in Las Vegas before beginning intensive treatment in Philadelphia for progressive back pain and sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, a disease that affects the central nervous system. He will undergo infusion therapy to help his central nervous system interpret pain correctly.
"Nothing is more debilitating than pain," he said, and he's seen plenty lately. Despite losing his home in the storm, Jagunich stayed to see Casino Magic Bay St. Louis through Katrina's devastation and, "he unselfishly stayed to open Hollywood Casino," said John Chaszar, Hollywood assistant general manager.
His personal stamp is on every detail of Hollywood Casino, from the property master plan to the gambling floor footprint and every item on the menu.
Larry Gregory, executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission, said he hated to hear of Jagunich's retirement. "His interest in this industry has really represented Mississippi well over the past few years. He was always a gentleman."
"You learn a lot working with him," said Bob Davidge, the casino's advertising and PR manager. "He's a champion of a guy. It's a sad day for us all."
His career took Jagunich across the country, including Atlantic City and Las Vegas. Before coming to Mississippi, he was senior vice president, food and beverage, at the Atlantis, Paradise Island property in the Bahamas.
There he encountered his first Category 5 hurricane when Georges struck the Bahamas. The second was Katrina.
"The decision I made 10 hours before Katrina hit to leave the hotel," he said, was a defining moment. He took back roads to ride out the storm at a friend's house in Daphne, Ala., and returned to 15 feet of mud everywhere.
The Coast in five years will begin seeing the result of new capital investments, and he hopes it will be a mixed use of housing, attractions, gambling and other tourist attractions, "to make it a real all-around great experience. And it can be. I just pray that every community does the best they possibly can. You want to see a Coast of multidiversity," he said. "well-thought out and well-planned."
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