Harold William Welch

Harold (Hal) William Welch, born on November 5, 1959, age 66 of Las Vegas, NV, passed away on December 29, 2025. Hal is preceded in death by his beloved mother, Lucille Welch; beloved father, Coleman Patrick Welch; and beloved brother, Patrick Welch. Hal married his high school sweetheart, Monica Turner, in 1983. They were blessed with two wonderful children, son Cory Welch, fiancée Erika, daughter Brooke Welch-Flynn, and husband Devin. They have three beautiful grandchildren, Grayson Hayes, Elliot Flynn, and Juliette Flynn. Hal is further survived by his sister, Colleen Carey; brother, John Welch; and sister, Carolyn Welch. Hal loved his family and was always proud to be around them. He enjoyed spending time with his sixteen nieces and nephews: Shannon, Sean, Kyra, Nathan, Justin, Sidney, Samantha, Malachi, Alexzandria, Paul II, Demi, Evan, Riley, Haley, Apollo, and Aison.

Hal graduated from Rancho High School in 1978, where he excelled on the Varsity Basketball Team. Hal was a six-foot-tall south paw shooting star! He could hit from every spot on the basketball court. In one exciting weekend, he scored a record 51 points for his team. Then, he capped it off in the very next game by hitting a record 55 points for his team. Hal’s name is still in the state record books today because there was no such thing as a three-point basket in basketball until well after his record-setting accomplishment. At the time, Hal’s coach was quoted as saying, “He’s the best thing to happen in this city. In 20 years of coaching, he is the most prolific scorer I have ever seen.”

After college, Hal worked in the casino industry for over 40 years. He rose through the ranks quickly from a slot mechanic to Casino Manager. For much of his career, he ran the slot operations for Boyd Gaming downtown at the California Hotel, Main Street Station, and the Fremont Hotel. One of his offices was in the California Hotel. Hal could be heard quipping, “Come see your Pal Hal at the Cal,” to anyone who needed help. He enjoyed socializing with his clients, coworkers, and friends. Hal never met a stranger; working with people was his passion. He took time to make sure everyone felt welcome and special. He was an enthusiastic speaker who hosted numerous slot tournaments. Hal’s customers loved him and often brought him coffee, candy, and Hawaiian shirts from the Islands.

Hal traveled with his beloved family to many destinations, from the South of France to the Islands of Hawaii and Mexico, among others. The last time he went to Hawaii, he and his family swam with the sharks. One of his recent trips took him to Palm Springs, where he got to see all his siblings together at one time. He spent a beautiful Thanksgiving catching up and relaxing with his beloved brother and sisters. Hal cherished his family time.

Today, we fondly remember the man who was nicknamed Hoopin Hal for his love of basketball. We will miss you dearly and hold you forever in our hearts. May the peace of God be with you now and for eternity. Until we meet again, your loving family and friends.

Celebration of Life Gathering will be held at Chinitas Tapas & Sushi, located at 147 S. Water St., Henderson, NV 89015. The gathering is scheduled for January 18, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Family and friends are welcome to join and share memories of Hal.