GWOP Report: R.I.P. Don Barden (1943-2011)

Don H. Barden was born in Inkster, MI and started up his first business with only $500 in the 1960s, a record store where he began promoting bands and booking shows. From this humble entrepreneurial  beginning Barden made it into the cable industry, eventually achieving success as the first African American cable-company owner in Detroit, MI. 

In 2002 Barden took possession of the Fitzgeralds casinos. One was based in Tunica, Mississippi, another in Black Hawk, Colorado, and the third in downtown Las Vegas. With the Las Vegas casino Barden became the city’s first African American casino owner.

Barden Companies, with over four thousand employees, earned $347 million in 2002, 90 percent of which came from Barden’s four casinos, his Tunica-based casino being the most profitable.

Don Barden showed that he had great negotiating skills, whether for real estate or for licenses for new technology, and was a risk taker. With each new acquisition he gained more experience, and he continually used his new skills to move his companies forward.

Barden passed away on Thursday, May 19, 2011 of Lung Cancer in Detroit, MI.

R.I.P. Don Barden a true #GWOPSTAR and inspiration for GWOP Magazine.

(Don Barden pictured above with Bella Marshall and former Boxing champ Tommy Hearns)

*sidenote: We would like to see Terrance Howard playing a lead role as Barden in a biopic of his life.