was asked of Robert Maheu, Executive Assistant to Howard Hughes, as he was the Keynote Speaker. While I am fairly certain that he replied No, or that he was not aware of why "H.N.O." appeared on the Sands chips, but I saw that a notepad from the Maheu Estate was included in a Howard Hughes themed display case at the Mob Museum (Las Vegas, Nevada) as shown in the pics.

It appears that this notepad contradicts what Mr. Maheu stated back then, unless I heard the answer wrong. Or, perhaps he liked the term and had the notepads created after hearing the question.

Personally, I like the H.N.O being attributed to Howard Hughes.

Does anyone reading this, that was also at the Banquet in 2004, recall his reply being what I have here? Tyrus, do you remember?

Jim