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.

In 1982, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, replacing four-term incumbent Democrat Howard Cannon, whom he had defeated for reelection. He served only one term, from 1983 to 1989, having been defeated for reelection in 1988 by Democratic Governor Richard Bryan. After his loss, he was then appointed ambassador to the Bahamas by President George H. W. Bush on March 24, 1989. Despite some opposition from Democratic Senators, Hecht was easily confirmed by a 78 to 19 vote on July 11, 1989. He served from 1989 until 1993.

After finishing his time as ambassador to the Bahamas in 1994, Hecht returned home to Las Vegas to focus on his business activities. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2005. Hecht died of the cancer on May 15, 2006 in Las Vegas.