By Jim Gemma
UNLV SID
Former UNLV Runnin Rebel basketball player Leon Symanski received tremendous news in May of 1998. He learned that he was accepted to attend law school at UNLV's William S. Boyd School of Law.
He was a part of UNLV's 140-member class in the inaugural year of the law school. The Boyd School of Law had 75 full-time and 65 part-time students.
"I am extremely excited to be a part of the William S. Boyd School of Law," Symanski said. "No one loves UNLV more than me. They recruited some of the best faculty and administrators from prestigious law schools throughout the country."
The law school, located at the former Paradise Elementary School on Tropicana Avenue, is a three year full-time program.
"The first year of law school was the hardest personal challenge I've ever had to do in my life," Symanski added. "From the months of August through May, I was working full-time, going to school full-time, and taking care of my family. I received pretty good grades and I'm looking forward to my second year. It's great to be a student again."
He is no stranger to the Las Vegas valley. He has been a member of the community since 1984 when he joined the Runnin' Rebels to play for the legendary coach Jerry Tarkanian.
Prior to his arrival at UNLV, he played two seasons at Orange Coast Junior College (Calif.). He was a graduate of Garden Grove High School (Calif.) and lettered three years in basketball. He attended Syosset High School in New York as a freshman. He was a four-year honor roll student.
He then played two seasons for the Runnin' Rebels (1984-87) and appeared in 36 career games. He was a member of UNLV's second NCAA Final Four Team. The 1986-87 Runnin' Rebels compiled an overall record of 37-2 and established the school record for most wins in a season. The record still stands and possible will never be broken. The squad was arguably one of the best in UNLV history.
The '86-87 squad became the first team in UNLV history to end the regular season as the nation's top-ranked team. UNLV entered the NCAA Tournament as the top seed in the West Region, breezing through the first three rounds. The team's popularity led to 10 Thomas & Mack Center sell-outs en route to averaging 18,251 fans per game.
The team was honored when it was inducted into the UNLV Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 1, 1998.
"Las Vegas is a great community and the Runnin' Rebels program will always have a special place in my heart," he said. "I give credit to the UNLV basketball program with who I am today.
"It taught me patience, discipline, motivation and self confidence. I totally attribute this to UNLV basketball. It laid a strong foundation and enabled me to meet a lot of tremendous people."
Symanski, who is currently employed by Craig P. Kenny and Associates, received his degree in business administration from UNLV in 1987. He received his master's from UNLV in public administration in 1994.
He began his career in the hotel industry and was employed for 10 years. He worked at the Tropicana Hotel as an Assistant Hotel Manager from 1987-93. He then was employed at The Luxor as the Director of Health and Safety from 1993-97.
Leon and his wife, Lisa, have a four-year old daughter named Noelle.
