Miami Heat Co-owner Gets NMHS Alumni Award

Miami Heat part-owner Robert Sturges, a 1965 graduate of New Milford High School, may have turned down the opportunity to deliver the commencement address at this year's graduation ceremony.

But he had a good excuse.

New Milford High School Principal Eric Sheninger told the graduates that while they were sitting on the stage waiting to receive their diplomas, Sturges was sitting courtside in South Beach where his team, the Miami Heat, was playing the Oklahoma City Thunder for the NBA title. (Miami won 121-106.)

Sturges, a limited partner of the Miami Heat franchise, was the recipient of the 2012 New Milford High School Distinguished Alumni Award. This award, presented every year, honors an alumni who has made a significant and positive impact on the world since their graduation from New Milford High School. 

Sturges spoke at New Milford’s Senior Award’s Dinner this year, telling the students about his journey from the halls of New Milford High School to the highest ranks of a successful sports franchise. Upon graduating from New Milford High School, Sturges attended Dartmouth College and was a cum laude graduate of Rutgers School of Law, and married his New Milford High School sweetheart along the way. 

Sturges' accomplished career includes over 25 years of gaming industry experience, including over 15 years with Carnival Resorts & Casinos where he served as President of Carnival's Gaming Division. It was in this capacity that Sturges oversaw the development and operation of the Casino Rouge Riverboat in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Casino Rama Resort and Casino in the Toronto, Ontario.

Sturges also served as Deputy Director and Director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. He was appointed to the Board of Directors of AmeriCredit Corp., served as a Director of General Motors Financial Company, Inc., and was a member of the Board of Directors of Benihana, Inc. where he was the Lead Independent Director and a member of the Audit, Corporate Governance and Executive Committees.

Sturges has been CEO of Nevada Gold & Casinos, Inc. since 2006. In a letter he sent to Sheninger to read to the graduates, he encouraged them to take every opportunity that life offers them in pursuing their goals.