It's with many mixed emotions that we write today's message: Our legendary gaming reporter, Howard Stutz, will soon be retiring. 

Well before he joined our staff in 2021, Howard was an outspoken champion of The Indy's work and an eminently respected voice on the gaming industry. We long wanted to beef up our coverage of Nevada's most important business sector, so we were thrilled when he started freelancing for us and later became a full-fledged team member.

More than 40 years after launching his career, though, Howard is ready to hang up his journalism hat and enjoy the fun and freedom of retirement. 

We'll miss not only his diligence in covering the gaming beat (plus a lot of add-ons, from new sports teams to cannabis and judicial elections), but how he is the quintessential team player, jumping in to help whenever needed.

"We are sad to lose Howard, who has been everything we could have hoped for as a reporter, mentor and sometime-editor," said CEO Jon Ralston. "But as a friend who has known Howard for four decades, I am thrilled that he will be able to enjoy retirement with his family. Godspeed!" 

It'll be impossible to replace Howard, and we look forward to celebrating all his contributions to Nevada journalism when he is inducted into the Nevada Press Foundation's Hall of Fame next month. But we'll be on the lookout soon for someone that could bring their own strengths to the work of covering Nevada's preeminent industry. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, join us in wishing Howard a fulfilling final few months as a reporter — he's not planning to put his notebook down until the end of the year — and an even happier retirement to come: [email protected].