“I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Governor Guinn. I had the privilege of serving with Kenny while Secretary of State and was proud to have called him my friend. His service to Nevada and his legacy will be remembered by all who worked with him. My thoughts and prayers go to Dema and her family during this very difficult time.”

- Rep. Dean Heller

“I was saddened to hear the news today of the death of Governor Kenny Guinn. Nevada has lost a true public servant who devoted himself to the people of the Silver State. I was honored to serve in the state legislature during Governor Guinn’s time in office. As a former Clark County Superintendant, Governor Guinn was a respected leader in the efforts to improve Nevada’s system of education, and through our shared commitment to Nevada’s students and teachers we became friends as well as colleagues. My thoughts and prayers are with Governor Guinn’s family and friends during this sad time.”

- Rep. Dina Titus

“I am absolutely heartbroken over this tragic loss. I have known Kenny Guinn since he was Superintendent of the Clark County School District, where he did an extraordinary job for our community. As a University Regent, I helped to recruit Kenny Guinn as President of UNLV and worked alongside him in that role to improve the University and better serve our students. He was a dynamic force in Nevada politics and our State’s business circles for as many decades as I can remember, and he had an extraordinary influence on me. He was a good man and he will be deeply missed. My condolences to the Guinn family and all those who are mourning the passing of this remarkable Nevadan.”

- Rep. Shelley Berkley

“I just learned a couple of minutes ago, one of my dear friends passed away. He was an orphan, he was a stellar athlete. He came to Las Vegas to be a school teacher but he had such a dynamic personality that soon they learned in that rapidly growing school district there, which is now the fourth or fifth largest in the country, they needed his kind of leadership. So he went from being a teacher to running that huge school district in Las Vegas, Clark County School District. He had such a magnetic personality. Kenny Guinn was built like an athlete. He was handsome like a movie star. And he left the school district after a number of years and became a bank president. He became a big utility president at a major utility in Nevada. Then he became president of a university. I think he worked for $1 a year. He did it to be nice. Somebody said to him, “What you should do is run for governor. It was a slam dunk. He was a very moderate Republican. He was elected governor twice very easily. He did an extremely good job as governor. We don't know what happened to Kenny today. But from reports we got, he was in an accident. He was on his roof and fell. He's dead now. I feel so bad about this. I talked to him a week or so ago about my campaign and his wonderful, beautiful, charming wife Dema. I just feel so sad that Kenny is not with us anymore. I join all Nevada in mourning the loss of truly a great man, one of Nevada's outstanding governors, a friend of mine who I'll always feel very strongly about.”

- Sen. Harry Reid, in remarks delivered on the Senate floor.

“I am both shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of a true Nevadan, former Governor Kenny Guinn. It’s nearly impossible for me to put into words what this one man has meant to me and the people of Nevada. Kenny was greatly admired and respected across Nevada from the rurals of the East to the metropolitan abundance of the South. Kenny was to me a great role model and someone who I worked very closely with – in fact, he has been an inspiration to me through the years beginning with the time that he was the Superintendent of the Clark County School District and he signed my high school diploma. He and Dema served Nevada well as our first family, and they have continued their tireless devotion to philanthropic efforts, such as education, in recent years. My thoughts and prayers are with Dema and their children and all the people across the state who are mourning the loss of a great Nevadan.”

- Sen. John Ensign

“As my friend, Kenny Guinn had my affection and my trust. As a business and governmental leader in our state, Governor Guinn had my complete respect. He was a man that served his fellow citizens in ways too numerous to recount. His contribution to the welfare of Nevadans in the private sector and the public sector has been immeasurable. Such a man will be sorely missed by us all.”

- Steve Wynn

“I am saddened to learn of the passing of former Governor Kenny Guinn. On behalf of all Nevadans, I extend our deepest sympathy to his family and friends. Kenny Guinn was a proud Nevadan and his leadership of Nevada and many contributions to the Silver State will be remembered for many years to come.”

- Gov. Jim Gibbons

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Governor Kenny Guinn. He was a lifelong teacher – and carried that work ethic and genuine caring with him throughout his career. Whether it was as the leader of the Clark County School District, as president of UNLV, or as governor, Kenny Guinn had a unique ability to bring people together. We have lost a friend, a mentor, and one of our hardest working advocates for the people of Nevada. His legacy lives on through countless initiatives, including the Millennium Scholarship program, which has impacted the lives of thousands of Nevada students. Cindy and I will keep Dema and the entire Guinn family in our thoughts and prayers.”

– Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid

“Governor Guinn was a great man and a great Nevadan. He led the Clark County School District with dedication as superintendent for more than a decade. He helped build Nevada’s economy as a leader in the private sector for nearly 20 years before he was elected governor. Thousands of Nevada high school students have received college educations because of the Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship Program. Many more will receive those scholarships in years to come, and that will be his legacy. Governor Guinn stewarded Nevada through some of its most difficult budget times, and he did so with authority, but also with compassion. Anyone who knew Kenny Guinn recognized that about him. He saw public service as his way of improving the lives of others, to give others the opportunities he had. He never lost sight of that. This is a very sad day for Nevada. Our hearts go out to former First Lady Dema Guinn, and we can only let Governor Guinn’s family know how much we appreciated him, and how much we will miss Kenny Guinn.”

– Nevada Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford

“Governor Guinn was a friend, a model, and an inspiration to me and many others who knew him through the years. Governor Guinn was generous with his time and advice. Over the past few years he reached out to give suggestions on policy and ideas on how we could make progress for Nevada. He never stopped caring about this state and the people in it. He was sometimes criticized by the left as too conservative and scolded by the right as too liberal. I think that means he probably got things just right.”

– Nevada Assemblyman John Oceguera

"Today, Nevadans mourn the loss of one of the State’s finest leaders, Governor Kenny Guinn. My heartfelt condolences and sympathies are extended to his wife, Dema, and his sons, Jeff and Steve. It was my honor to serve with Governor Guinn: he was truly a generational leader of our times. His dedication and service to Nevada was matched only by his love of its citizens."

– former State Sen. Joe Heck

“Kenny Guinn truly loved Nevada and today we lost a dear friend and trusted public servant. As Governor he often crossed party lines and remained committed to doing what was right for our state. He was a good man, a devoted husband and a passionate advocate for education in Nevada. The hearts and prayers of our entire community go out to his family during this difficult time.”

- Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen

"All of us in the MGM Resorts family are stunned and saddened to learn of Governor Guinn’s sudden passing. He has been a great friend and invaluable resource for our company and community. Kenny led a life of enormous accomplishment as a trusted leader both in the private and public sectors. He made critical contributions to our community in business, education and government. I considered him a mentor and a friend, and I will miss him deeply. On behalf of the entire company, our heartfelt prayers go out to Dema and the Guinn family."

– MGM Resorts International Chairman and CEO Jim Murren

“I am devastated to hear the news of Governor Guinn’s death. I had the privilege of serving with Governor Guinn as his Attorney General and I was honored to have called him ‘friend.’ His service to our state will be remembered by all Nevadans and, especially, the many Nevada children who enrolled in college as a result of his Millennium Scholarship program. Kathleen and I extend our deepest sympathies to Dema and her family during this very difficult time.”

– former Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval

“Governor Guinn was an icon in our state and was a great friend of ours at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He attended many events at the speedway and he believed strongly on the impact of major events on our local economy. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

– Las Vegas Motor Speedway President Chris Powell

"Governor Guinn will be remembered by all as a champion of education in Nevada, having served as superintendent of the Clark County School District and interim President of UNLV. Governor Guinn led UNLV through a phase of our history that initiated our transformation into a major research university. He also served on our Foundation Board and thus was critical to our growth. His pivotal role in creating the Millennium Scholarship afforded access to thousands of Nevada students to quality higher education, and I believe that we can best honor his memory by taking steps to preserve and build on those achievements."

– UNLV President Neal Smatresk

"When you think of a handful of people who are truly good people, he was one of them. An expression I like to use is, 'The best way to lead is by example,' and that was Kenny Guinn."

– Service1st Bank of Nevada CEO Bill Martin

“On behalf of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and our 6,000 business members, we are saddened by the sudden passing of former Governor Kenny Guinn. Kenny Guinn leaves a rich legacy of service to his community as a business leader, an educator and a two-term governor. He was passionate about Nevada and embodied the independent spirit of the Silver State, and he always put the needs of Nevadans first. He was also a gentle man who enjoyed people and made them feel special. Our thoughts are with Mrs. Guinn and the entire Guinn family. We appreciate their generosity in sharing precious family time with the people of Nevada, and we are certain they are justifiably proud of the many contributions Governor Guinn made to the state that he honorably served.”

– Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Chairman Kristin McMillan

"My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the Guinn family as they cope with the loss of their husband, father and grandfather. May they find comfort in the joy, kindness and love they shared.”

– Clark County Commission Vice-Chair Susan Brager

“Nevada has lost a great man in Kenny Guinn. He led with courage and compassion – a rare individual who left his mark on our educational system, business community and our entire state. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Guinn family.”

– Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown

“Governor Kenny Guinn was a true public servant whose dedication to this community and this state goes back many, many years. I saw him take our Clark County School District to higher and higher levels of performance. As parents we watched our kids play sports together. As a legislator, I saw him as a very caring and reasonable governor. He often served on blue-ribbon panels to help our state. He worked hard throughout the last 40-plus years to make Nevada a better place to live, work, and play. I have been blessed to know and work with him. This is a sad day for the state of Nevada and the Guinn family. My prayers go out to them.”

– Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins

“I had the pleasure of serving with Governor Kenny Guinn who was the consummate gentleman and statesman.”

– Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani.

“Governor Kenny Guinn was a principled leader and a tremendous role model for all of us. His dedication to improving education in particular will benefit thousands of students who never had the pleasure of knowing him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”

– Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak

“This is really sad news for all Nevadans. Governor Kenny Guinn was a true icon for the state and he will be missed by all. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

– Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly

“Kenny Guinn was a widely respected and tireless worker on behalf of all Nevadans. His accomplishments, particularly on behalf of education, will be long remembered.”

– Clark County Manager Virginia Valentine

"On behalf of the Clark County School District, I express our deepest condolences on the passing of Gov. Kenny Guinn. Nevada, especially the educational community, has lost a competent and caring gentleman. Gov. Guinn always put students first throughout his many public leadership roles, and he also maintained a keen eye for efficiency with taxpayers’ dollars. His leadership as both our governor and CCSD superintendent positively changed the blueprint of education in this state. In the late 1990's, Gov. Guinn urged the Nevada school districts to unite with a single, statewide K-12 educational plan, which became the genesis for "iNVest," a plan supported by all 17 school districts. He was the architect of the Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship, ensuring that thousands of Nevada's youth could pursue a college education. Gov. Guinn, a middle school namesake, was an integral part of Clark County School District’s history and will always be remembered for his commitment to our children and for the legacy that he leaves. Known as the "education governor," he considered education funding a priority. He remained active in his support of education even in his retirement and was a true role model for other public officials."

– Clark County School District Superintendent Walt Ruffles

"There is so much you can say about Governor Guinn, about his commitment to education as a school superintendent, his creation of the Millennium scholarships and other accomplishments during his tenure as governor. But what so many of us will remember about him is his genuine caring for people, regardless of their political party or where they were from. Governor Guinn would sit down and talk to a person or group of people any time, any place. I’ll never forget the time when he left a room full of people waiting for him so he could walk my son through the Governor’s mansion. A young child’s smile was worth more than making political supporters happy. When you had disagreements -- and we did -- you knew that he listened to what you had to say and gave it credence. I recall many discussions with Governor Guinn about a bill I sponsored to allow Nevadans to obtain prescription drugs from Canada at a reduced cost. He was concerned about the bill and threatened to veto it. I went and spoke to him about it and after many days of consideration, he met with me and indicated that he would not veto the bill. He told me that if I was so sure it was the right thing to do, and if it would help Nevadans, that he would support it. That’s the kind of Governor he was -- never partisan -- and always concerned about Nevadans. His grace and the respect he showed to everyone are qualities that are too often absent these days.

"Our hearts go out to Dema and Governor Guinn’s entire family. He will be sorely missed."

– Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley

"Kenny's passing is proof that fate is neither just nor kind. However, when Kenny's history is written it will have to include that he left the world a better place than he found it especially for those of us who knew and loved him. He was a great friend, family man and public servant. We embrace Dema and his two sons. He will be missed."

– Wayne Newton

"I am so saddened by the loss of our friend Kenny Guinn. Our thoughts, prayers and love go out to his wonderful family.

"Governor Guinn leaves behind a legacy of grace and an example for each of us and our children. He was a man of true character, a brilliant and gifted Nevadan who used those gifts to bring prosperity to our state. He was a true friend of education and his efforts on behalf of our students will bear fruit for decades to come. For myself, Stefanie and the Agassi Foundation for Education, thank you Kenny, we will never forget you or your historic accomplishments."

- Andre Agassi

“Gov. Kenny Guinn was immensely dedicated to Nevada and its education system. He was a great man, who was always willing to put politics aside for the good of the state. Heading up first the Clark County School District and then UNLV, he impacted the lives of countless Nevada students and continues to do so through the Millennium Scholarship Program. He was an exemplary private sector leader. And as governor of Nevada he was the kind of man who did what was right even when it wasn’t easy. He will be sorely missed, and my heart goes out to his family.”

- Sam Lieberman, chairman of the Nevada State Democratic Party

"Ted and Sharron Angle are enormously saddened to learn about the sudden loss of former Governor Kenny Guinn. The news is extremely heartbreaking and marks a very sad day for Nevada. Ted and Sharron are keeping Governor Guinn’s wife Dema and their two sons in their prayers."

- Jerry Stacy, Angle campaign spokesman

"Our prayers go out to the Guinn family as they cope with the passing of a husband and father. The citizens of Las Vegas, Clark County, and Nevada will always appreciate the years of service Kenny Guinn dedicated to them."

- Clark County Republican Party Chairman Bob Ruckman

“Kenny Guinn fully understood the significance of a strong and impartial Judiciary. He had the opportunity to make 21 judicial appointments throughout the state – more judicial appointments than any governor that I can recall. His selections were always based on merit and political affiliation played no role. Today, his appointees are among the most highly regarded jurists on the bench. His judicial legacy will endure for decades. On behalf of the Nevada Supreme Court and the entire Judiciary, I wish to express our sorrow and condolences on the passing of a great friend and partner of the third branch of government. Citizens of Nevada could always rely on Governor Guinn to do the right thing, and so could the Judiciary. Nevada has lost a great guiding hand.”

- former Nevada Supreme Court Chief Justice Ron Parraguirre