Hecht, Chic, 1928-2006

Mayer Jacob "Chic" Hecht (November 30, 1928 – May 15, 2006) was an American businessman and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a U.S. Senator from Nevada from 1983 to 1989 and as U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas from 1989 to 1993.

Born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in retailing from Washington University in St. Louis in 1949. Hecht then attended Military Intelligence School at Fort Holabird and served as an intelligence agent with the U.S. armed forces during the Korean War, from 1951 to 1953. After leaving military service, Hecht moved to Nevada. His business activities included retailing, the operation of a bank, and interests in hotels. In 1966, he was elected to the Nevada Senate, the first Republican to represent his predominantly Democratic district in and around Las Vegas in more than 25 years. He was a state senator from 1967 to 1975, serving as Senate minority leader from 1969 to 1970.

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