Don H. Barden

rdf:langString Don H. Barden

rdf:langString Don Hamilton Barden (December 20, 1943 – May 19, 2011) was an American casino executive. Barden was the manager, chairman, president and chief executive officer of The Majestic Star Casino, LLC, from its formation, with responsibility for key policy making functions. Since their inception, Barden had also served as president and chief executive officer of Majestic Investor Holdings, LLC, and manager of Barden Colorado Blackhawk, Colorado, Barden Mississippi Tunica, Mississippi, and Barden Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada; and chairman and president of BDI. Barden also served as chairman of Barden Gary Foundation, Inc., and Don H. Barden Foundation, Inc. since their formations. Additionally, he was the president and chief executive officer of Barden Companies, Inc. and a group of other companies he owned and/or operated. Over the past 30 years, Barden had successfully developed, owned and operated many business enterprises in various industries including real estate development, casino gaming, broadcasting, cable television and international trade. In 2003, Black Enterprise Magazine selected Barden as Company of the Year. In 2004, Barden received the Trumpet Award for Entrepreneur of the Year. For years the Barden gambling facility in Gary existed beside another gambling facility belonging to Donald Trump. Barden bought the second facility for a price reflecting historic revenue at a time when several other facilities were opening up in Illinois and Indiana. Majestic Star and Fitzgerald casinos in Indiana, Mississippi and Colorado filed for bankruptcy in November 2009. In December 2011, the facilities were turned over to creditors. The Nevada casino and Barden's ownership in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania casino were separately held and were not part of the bankruptcy.