Chester Simms
1909 - 1970
Chester’s Cuban passport
When Meyer Lansky controlled the gambling in Cuba and the Dominican Republic, he relied on his favorite casino boss, Chester Simms, to handle the job.
“Simms saw and understood everything there was to see within a casino. He was also the most observant business man I have ever known.”
– Dick Odessky, “Fly On The Wall”
In New York in 1943, Chester meets an enchanting young woman named Marie. They enjoyed a “Guys and Dolls” romance between New York City and Havana. Marie and Chester were married Novermber 11, 1945.
They were blessed with two children, Douglas and Dawn. The Simms family migrated to

Star Celebration: A Tribute to Chester Simms
In 2006, Chester Simms was honored with his own “Walk of Stars” plaque in front of the Flamingo hotel. We put together a montage of videos and pictures so you can experience the festivities of this special event.