Transcript of interview with Leo Borns and Sue Easley Borns by Anna Huddleston, March 21, 2014

AN INTERVIEW WITH SUE AND LEO BORNS An Oral History Conducted by Anna Huddleston West Charleston Neighborhoods: An Oral History Project of Ward 1 Oral History Research Center at UNLV University Libraries University of Nevada Las Vegas ©The West Charleston Neighborhoods: An Oral History Project of Ward 1 University of Nevada Las Vegas, 2014 Produced by: The Oral History Research Center at UNLV — University Libraries Director: Claytee D. White Project Managers: Claytee D. White, Barbara Tabach Transcriber: Kristin Hicks Editors: Stefani Evans, Pat Holland, Maggie Lopes, Barbara Tabach Interviewers: Claytee D. White, Barbara Tabach, Shirley Emerson, Lois Goodall, Judy Harrell, Anna Huddleston, Linda McSweeney, Wendy Starkweather • • 11 The recorded interview and transcript have been made possible through the generosity of Dr. Harold Boyer. The Oral History Research Center enables students and staff to work together with community members to generate this selection of first-person narratives. The participants in this project thank the university for the support given that allowed an idea the opportunity to flourish. The transcript received minimal editing that includes the elimination of fragments, false starts, and repetitions in order to enhance the reader's understanding of the material. All measures have been taken to preserve the style and language of the narrator. In several cases photographic sources accompany the individual interviews. The following interview is part of a series of interviews conducted under the auspices of the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Claytee D. White, Project Director Director, Oral History Research Center University Libraries University Nevada, Las Vegas • • • 111 PREFACE Leo and Sue (Easley) Borns came to Las Vegas in 1962 to begin an architectural career that would last forty-four years in Southern Nevada. Leo Boms worked for various firms in Las Vegas before developing a reputation as "F. Borns, Architect". He has gone on to design buildings for state public works, Clark County, the City of Las Vegas, Clark County School District, churches, and private home owners. Rarely taking a job outside of Southern Nevada, Leo Boms' intent was to develop an architecture considered indigenous to the area while keeping the conservation of energy and technology as prime importance. Mr. and Mrs. Boms, after living in the area for approximately five years, decided to purchase a home on Strong Drive in McNeil Estates where they raised their three children. Active in social and philanthropic organizations, both Leo and Sue have become acquainted with numerous area personalities. Mr. Boms is most proud of being a part of the development of the Kiwanis Water Conservation Park although his structural designs can be seen throughout the Southern Nevada area. At the age of 77, he closed his office but remains an integral influence on the Greater Las Vegas area. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Interview with Sue and Leo Borns March 21, 2014 In Las Vegas, Nevada Conducted by Claytee D. White Preface jv Recalls navy career; marriage to Mary Sue Easley in California, June 30, 1957; honeymoon at the Sands Hotel, Las Vegas. Departs from military. Attends California State Polytechnic College, San Luis Obispo. Matriculates with degree in Architectural Engineering. Reveals senior thesis 1_2 Describes early position with Jack Knighton, 1962; Sue's position with Wagner Trailer Sales. Continues with employers: Bob Whann, Harry Whitely, George Tate, Jack Miller, Zick & Sharpe, Jim McDaniel, Tate and Dobrusky, John Mayer, and Lester LaFortune 2-5 Begins company, 1966, as Brandis Borns Architects. Becomes "Leo F. Borns Architect" 5 Reveals early projects: Best Glass Warehouse & Office, 7/11 Stores, Chic Hechts' stores, Clark County School District buildings; Silver State Building and others. Designs reflect cooperative team planning with engineering and specialty consultants to obtain creative approach 5-8 Decides to retire 2008 after 44 years in business, age 79. Belongs to Haulapai Club, Fremont Street. Buys home of Lester LaFortune in McNeil Estates. Sue joins "Service League" ("Junior League"), PEO Chapter "V" Sisterhood, and President of Southern Nevada Reciprocity, 2003. Recalls children's schooling while describing friends and neighbors in McNeil Estates 8-11 Reveals that projects rarely out of Greater Las Vegas area—five homes in Reno. Designs multi-and single family residences, offices, medical and recreational buildings, churches, school portables, and schools throughout Southern Nevada. Concentrates on energy conservation. 11 -16 Reflects on community service: Kiwanis; Salvation Army Advisory—Life Member; Executive Board, Boy Scouts; Southern Nevada Executive Council; Greater Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce; Director, Nevada Society of Architects; UNLV Master Planning Committee; Lied Discovery Children's Museum Board. Designed Kiwanis Park 17-39 Designs of representative Architectural Projects 40-50 March 21, 2014 This is Anna Huddicston. It is March 21.2014. Fm at the home of Leo and Sue Boms, and we're going to talk about the early las Vegas History project and their lives in Las Vegas when they lirsl arrived here in 1962. But before that: Leo was a Navy Pilot, born in St. l,ouis» Missouri. Upon finishing Naval Aviator Training in Pensacoia Florida, and Advanced Training in Corpus Christi/Kingsville, Texas. I was then transferred in June of 195$. and stationed at North Island Naval Air Station, in San Diego. California. Mary Sue Easley was a native California!*, who lived in Palos Verdcs Estates, and was attending Whittier College, in Whitticr, California, Sue and Leo were married in the Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdcs Estates, California on June 30. 1957. June 30,2014 our 57th Wedding Anniversary Leo and Mary Sue Burns Grace Presbyterian Church, Las Vegas, Nevada Among other places, we honeymooned in Las Vegas, Nevada, stayed at the Sands Hotel lor about three days. Saw Jack Benny & Giselle McKenzie, and we also saw Tony Iknnet. It was much tun. but then it was back to work at North Island, and my four and a half years of military service was coming to a close. I departed the military- sen ice and went back to college to get a degree in architecture. ^ In June of 1%2 I graduated with a Degree in Architectural Engineering from California State Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo. California. During my senior year I was deeply involved in anything architecture. 1 was Chairman of a group of eleven architecture and structural engineering students who worked on a senior thesis, titled: "The Bin Sur. A Rccional Plannim. !JS£Hai£D< lor that 52 mile long designated coastline in middle to northern California.. When the Salinas County Planning Commission finally adopted an overall Plan for this pristine area, they used two ol the items in our plan and notified our Architectural Department/University of their actions. Also, besides my architectural classes. I entered a Nation Design Competition and came 111 third place. I won a Three Dimensional Presentation Award granted to me on the day of our graduation, and I won a Design Competition for a Historical Monument here in Nevada, called Ichthyosaur I listorical Monument. This competition was only offered to three architecture departments at three Universities, and one professional school of architecture. Taiiassen West (in Scottsdale Arizona) lite three Universities were: Cal Poly, Cal Berkeley, and U.S.C. I was oflcred several jobs in California on and about my graduation, but chose to accept a position my architecture department set up with fits Vegas Architect, a Cal Poly Alumni by the name of Jack Knighton, who had an established firm here in I .as Vegas. We arrived in Las Vegas near the end of June. 1962, and I went to work for Jack Knighton. My wife had friends here in the mobile home business on Boulder Highway. John and Dorothy Wagner. Wagner Trailer Sales. My wife and her sister. Cynthia grew up with the Wagner's two daughters in California, and their family's were very close friends. Sue worked for •he Wagner's for the first six months we lived here, and then our first daughter. Pamela was bom. 2 She (hen became a mother and housewife for Pamela. Michael and Cathlecn. Jack Knighton's Office worked up a cost estimate for Ichthyosaur. and all the necessary documents to submit to the Nevada Park System and the State Public Works Board. When all had taken place and the cost was examined. S230.000.00 was far too much for the Project, and it was set aside, with the acknowledgment that it was my project, and may be resurrected in some future year...Which it did not! So that aside. I continued to work for Jack Knighton. Two other draftsmen were employed there also. Tony Campancro, and Pat Porcorello. lioth of course senior to me. Bob Whann. a structural engineer, w ho was the sole employee of another Architectural Firm, contacted me. and asked if I would be willing to work for them after I got oft" work from Jack Knighton's office, and I said I would. So I worked there from 5:30 p.m. To 8: 30 p.m.. and sometimes on the weekends. After a short period of time I left Jack Knighton's Office and worked full time for Harry Hayden Whitely. About seven months later. Harry Whitely. who was in his 7()'s had a stroke, and Bob and I kept the office running until he was able to get back But he wasn't the same, and for some reason he fired me. Bob Whann and 1 never could figure out why, and Bob figured it had to do with the stroke he had. and his Office did not remain open much longer. I applied for a job at George I ate s Office, and he hired me. I was there for over a year, and during that time the local A.I.A. Convention was going to be hosted by the local Chapter of the A.I.A.( American Institute of Architects). Howard Brandis, and older gentleman, who had heard about me, called me to his office and asked if I could help with the displays and award ceremonies. And I said I could. So he put me in charge of it. and I fabricated, from redwood, all the exhibit stands, and all the lighting for all the architectural submittals, for the Architectural Awards Portion of the Convention. When Howard Brandis and Jack Miller heard that I did all this at my own expense, and that George Tate had not paid me for the hours I was not at his 3 office. I hey were both very unhappy with George Tate, and gave Sue and I total admission to the t convention and the Awards Banquet free passes to everything. We had a very enjoyable time! Shortly after that. George late informed me that he and Tom Dobrusky (his long-time associate in the office, and only other employee). due to the downturn in work, were going to pool their resorccs. form a partnership, as a means to survive. So. I was out again. There was no work to be had for all the architect's in town, so I applied for a government job with Holmes and Narvcr. an engineering firm primarily at the Nevada l est Site. While I was there at the test site meeting with I lolntes and Narvcr. Jack Miller contacted my wife at home and offered me a job with his firm...Needless to say I accepted....So my wife and I were that close to saying good-bye to Nevada and heading back to California. Jack had one of the largest offices in Nevada, along with Zick & Sharpe Architects, and they helped each other out. During this slow time. I was loaned out to Zick & Sharpe for a small job. I o Jim McDaniel Architect a couple of times, and to l ate and Dobrusky. who took me from Jack for at a time what they thought was a big job. that didn't materialize. So there I was. without a job again. It was the end of October. I%6.1 was a licensed Architect by then, and so I called Jack Miller to see if I could come back, lie said times were really bad. and that he was going to have to lay ofTeverybody in his office, so there I was. a licensed Nevada Architect, without a job. So I called Jim McDanial's Office, John Mayer answered the phone, and I told him my situation and he said. I have this house remodel, for a very influential man in Las Vegas, and I will never get to it, and yyy know why (and I did). He g.i\c me his name. I .ester LaFortunc, Owner and President ot the local Garbage Company, Silver Slate Disposal Company, plas a few others in other states. Lester asked John to do the Project because John and his son were very close friends who went to High School together here in las Vegas. John gave me Mr. lol ortunc s phone number, gave me a lew tips on how to speak to him. given that John gave his job to me. So I called Mr. La Fortune, explained the circumstances, and he wasn't all that happy, and very brusquely, he gave me the address of the house, told me to 4 be there at a certain time that evening, and not to be late, and said he will look at me at make a determination if he wants to work with me or not! Of course, I was scared to death. I got to the house he was planning to remodel early, and waited for him to get there. Well we hit it off just fine, and I had the start of my Architectural Practice here in Las Vegas, Nevada near the end of 1966, about in November. Howard Brandis heard of my start-up, called me over to his house, which he and his wife were packing to leave town, and he wanted to cut a deal with me, since I hadn't hung out my "Shingle" yet. He had some minor jobs he would like me to handle, if I would put his name on my letterhead. He said he was given a job by a former classmate of his in San Francisco, Fred Allen of the Architectural Firm of Anshen & Allen, a very large prestigious firm. He said he would only ask this of me for a couple of years at the most. So I agreed. So 1 started my architectural practice in 1966 as Brandis Boms Architects, a "Registered Fictitious Firm Name" but there was no Howard Brandis, but his time and experience as an architect here gave me some confidence. One of the projects he gave me was for the design of the Best Glass Warehouse and Office in North las Vegas. My first whole architectural project. It was for Walt Featherston, who was a rather abrupt man. I successfully designed and completed this job. One of the other small job contacts I loward gave to me was for 7/11 Stores. Iliese were all very small projects, but one day Senator Chick Hccht called me up and wanted to do some remodel work in one of his stores. I never heard from Howard again, so after about three years I unregistered the Fictitious Firm Name, and dropped his name from my letterhead and continued my practice, as I.eo F. Borns Architect. About four years later Howard showed up in my office, said he wasn't coming back to las Vegas, thanked me. and wished me well. About a year after I started my Practice, things began to pick up again. The Clark County 5 School District had a new Superintendent. Dr. Kenny (iuinn, who put together a School District Construction Department. He hired a Planning Director. Chuck Ncely, and a Director of Construction Stanley Rokclmann, plus a Bond Election to start remodeling and adding on to existing school campuses. They sent out notices to the local architects, of w hich I was included, and I made their list with my presentation. Of course all of the johs they gave me were relatively small, but they were all small. They had no money to start new campuses, this came many-many years later as the town grew. A lot of the larger one's they gave me were for campuses out of town, such as Indian Springs. Boulder City. Moapa Valley. Searchlight (Harry Rcid Elementary School). I got projects from the State Public Works, the County, the City, and the Private Sector jobs were coming along also. It was great. I never had more than a staff of eight draftsmen, but this was considered a good sized office for las Vegas. And I was olfand running as a las Vegas Architcctuaral Finn, and I had my Practice for 44 years. Clean, simple lines and form are the thrust of my design. The driving force of my firm has always been to strive for architectural excellence. It has always been youthtul and responsive to all levels of economic growth of the young community, eager and content to become a part of and grow with it. desiring with this concerted effort to develop an architecture which may be considered indigenous to the area. Conservation of energy, and technology have always been of primary importance in my approach to design. Risks were taken with innovative and bold design its early in the firm's growth as 1970. with the design ol the Silver State Building—a silvery-mirrored four story office building, corporate headquarters for the local Silver State Disposal Company. The design was energy-conservation oriented. Four yeas later when the first energy crisis affected the nation, the State Public Works Board commissioned my firm to design a laboratory building to research and develop systems of solar energy. Completed in 1976. the Solar laboratory, was the first solar heated and cooled state-owned building in Nevada. It was operated by the University of Nevada Systems' Desert Research Institute. It was located in Boulder City. Nevada. 6 Built in 1978. the Stewart/Mojave Recreation Center, owned by the City of l as Vegas, was designed as a very large experimental solar air-conditioned project. It was to he a national prototype, the integral part of the solar-energized system, funded and produced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). litis building was large in size. Over 32,000 s.f. The building was built, and space was provided tor the solar air conditioning system. A couple of years passed, and the Center was still functioning on its standard H.V.A.C. System. Finally, NASA gave up and said the solar air conditioning system was a failure (as were just about all of the plumbing based solar cooled systems trying to be designed). So the City of l.as Vegas just had a standard heated and cooled Recreation Center. They were not happy! The Recreation Center still functions Today. • _______ OlS$S8Qfib of the architectural model of the Recreation Center iBXCalityjooks about the same as constructed, but ' here are no solar collectors, as shown, on this roof area. From 1979 through 1990 my commissions included the I lenderson Campus of the Clark County Community College, churches such as the new Sanctuary Building for the First Presbyterian Church (now re-named the Grace Presbyterian Church), a series of large office 7 buildings including the Bonneville Square Building, the Magna Executive Center, and Surgical and Medical office buildings for Sierra I lealth Services. Regarding the Bonneville Square Building. It was for a large Law Firm: BcekJey. Singleton, Dclanoy, Jameson and (l ist, who became a part of the limt later). It was located on South 4th Street, and Bonneville Avenue. Northeast comer. It was a four story office building. with a parking garage. It was more than doubled in si/e for the next addition, and then a third addition. This Office Building was sheathed in black solar glass, and in my opinion, still the best looking building in downtown las Vegas. Nevada, and this is the year 2014. When we were putting on the third addition to this building, I got a phone call from Bill "Wildcat Morris, who wanted to build a similar building across I as Vegas Boulevard from Bonneville Square. I Ic wanted to do it in light colors, such as white. The picture of the model below gives an indication of what it would have looked like. but. it was not to happen as Bill suddenly passed away. Office Building for Bill Morris (Photograph of Architectural Model) I closed my office at the end ot 2<X)8, the year Baraek Ohama became President of the United States. My very influential clients stopped tltcir projects, and told me there would be NO money for probably six to ten years, and probably twelve to fifteen years. It was difficult to do. 8 since the Projects I was working on with them were in the size of millions of square feet in size, and the Project started with the demolition the Commercial Center on the South side of Sahara Avenue and Maryland Parkway, and was planned to absorb every thing West to the Sahara I lotel property. We were working with the Clark County Redevelopment Agency, to coordinate this right, and Clark County was part owner of this Center. Two months after my clients stopped their Project w ith me. the County closed the doors of their Redevelopment Agency. So my clients were "right-on". I was 77 years of age at that time. I had a couple of Jobs finishing up. and when they were finished I turned my Architectural License back to the State of Nevada, and I was officially retired at the age of 79. Wasn't easy, stopping it that way, but as it turned out "Right-On"! I am now 83. I he Remodel and Addition I did to Lester 1-aFortune's house turned out great, lie was extremely happy. He would invite me to join him at the llaulapai Club on Fremont Street once or twice a week. This was a very large Club of businessmen, and I felt very privileged to be asked. I oni I oley. one ol the foly Brothers was also a member. Ihc Foley Brothers Law Firm was the law Firm for Silver State Disposal, and Tom Foley took me into his office one day and told me he had the finest office in the State of Nevada. On OIK" of the visits to the llaulapai ( lub. I mentioned to Ixstcr LaFortunc that my wife and I were thinking about getting a different house. He told me to buy his former house that was vacant. He took me there. It was in McNeil [-states, an older beautiful neighborhood, [be house was about 1.800 sq. ft. In size, and was on a Vi Acre lot, filled with trees... It was beautiful. But I told him. I had only been in my Architectural Practice for less than a year, it was 1967, and I didn t think I could afford such a wonderful piece of property. He said let me handle that, and before you knew it. we had a bank loan, we sold our hoase that we had lived in for five years, our third child was bom. I did some minor remodel work on the house and we moved in. A whirlwind! We went on to put a large addition on both ends of the house, a large redwood deck 9 in Kick and, a playhouse lor our children, and we lived there comfortably tor twenty live years. A couple ol" years later I ester laFomtunc called me to his office, and we drove to two vacant sites. One of which was on Bast Sahara. He said they were going to build an office building, and he asked my advice on the two Sites. Shortly thereafter, he gave me some idea of the size of building they were going to need. 11K* Silver State Building was conceived. A four story office building of silvery mirrored glass, (a new material for energy conservation). My architectural practice was truly, really launched. I had a lot ot School District Projects, and other projects were coming in also. My wife was very basy with our three children. Wc Kid joined the First Presbyterian Church in l%2. and we both held church offices there. In 1971. Sue decided to join a Women's Organization called "Service league", which had just been cKirtered as "Junior League". She was in a Provisional Class with Blaine Wynn. Sue later joined Assistance league, and rose to President of that Organization. In 1979 Sue joined PEO Chapter "V" Sisterhood. She was very active and held all the offices, and was President of Southern Nevada Reciprocity in 2003. Our children attended West ( harlcston Blementary School. Bach one spent one year at a Sixth Grade Center, before going to Hyde Park Jr. High School, and they all graduated from Clark High School. Our oldest daughter. Pamela, went to Pcppcrdine University, and graduated. Our son. Michael, settled on the 1 fniversity of Oregon, the running headquarters of the Country (our son was a long distance runner in high school), and graduated with a degree in Molecular Biology, and he is a Scientist with Agilent Technologies in La Jolla, California. Our youngest. Cathleen. went to IJ.N.L.V. (with one semester in London. England), before transfering to Biola University in Southern California, where she graduated. I hey all seem to be successful in their lives. Living in McNeil Estates was beneficial to our lives here in las Vegas. The Mayor of las Vegas. Bill Brian; and his wife and family lived just a block away from as. and their oldest 10 daughter would baby sit for us. Wc became good friends with the Brian's. and joined them when they were hosting European Tours and Cruises. We had great fun on these occasions. Right next store to us was Jack and Margie Stuhmcr. owners of a home building company called Security I lousing ( orpor.it ion. Right next to them and our back yard was Tony and Mary l)rago. owners ot Scton Academy, a pre-school that is still functioning today. Across the street from as was a scientist. Bernard Menke. Down the street the Ravcnholt's lived. Otto and Brian. Across the street from their house was Tad Porter, an attorney. Gardner Jollcy and his wife lived down the street on Strong Drive, and his partner Bill Urga and his wife moved across the street. Carlton Adair and his family lived in the area also on Mason Street. Carlton Adair was in my Kiwanis Club, and he had a large piece of property adjacent to lake Mead. He tried to develop it into l akc Adair, but could never get it together. He finally sold the property, and it was developed into the "lake las Vegas". Carlton's daughter Valerie, and our daughter Pant were very close friends in school. Pam was also very close friends with Jane Adams in our neighborhood whose parents owned a number ol Sizzler Restaurants. Our youngest daughter became good friends is grade school with Adam ktromson who lived in the neighborhood. Our son befriended Ward Wengert at school, who lived in an adjacent neighborhood called Scotch Eighties. My first Accountant. Clyde l urncr. who later became partnered with Steve Wynn, and got in the Hotel business, rose to President and Chief Operating Officer, tore down a house in our neighborhood and built a house and moved in with his wife. So. we had a wonderful life on Strong Drive in McNeil Estates. Wc hosted many parties in our large yard, always keeping our fingers crossed that the wind would not come up and ruin the occasion, which it never did. Sue had many birthday and other parties (some large, where she needed help to keep an eye on the many children). The property was so large that our children never had to play in the street. Wc always drove our children to school, and hack from school, until they got to be older, and we would allow them to walk home from Hyde Park Jr. High. 11 I bought an office building in 1973, at 1009 Casino Center Boulevard. Remodeled it extensively and that served my purposes in downtown I .as Vegas, until it was bought by a local developer in 2005. who was building high rise apartment/condominiums in the area. During the first few years of my Practice. I was contacted by the City of las Vegas to see it I could help them with a landmark Ruin which the first inhabitants to las Vegas Built, It was called The Old Mormon Fort. They asked if I would do some Pro Bono work on it to help the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. I agreed, and was contacted by Florence Lcc Jones, and she put me in contact with a Nevada Author/Historian. Stan Paher. Stan came to my office with partial books that he had authored, marked up with pertinent references to the subject. Florence Lcc also brought me many old written documents, and some old sketches and pictures. With that, we worked up a scheme of what the City of IAS Vegas had asked me to do. Lester Ul ortune and his senior executive at Silver State disposal, Al Isola. sponsored me in to Ihe Desert Inn Country Club on August 6, 1974. This was the only Private/Resort Country Club in I AS Vegas. It was wonderful to be a member, and I was a golfer. The parties they had there were second to none, and you can't have parties of abundance like those anymore. Sue and I made many friends there, until it all came to an end. with the end of the Desert Inn Country Club in 2002. When Sue joined Junior League, she met many women who all became close friends. One such person was Sharon Schmitt. Her husband was in the insurance business with Allstate Insurance. We became close friends, since our three children and lairry and Sharon's children were about the same age. Sharon was the oldest daughter of Ed and Evelyn Von Tobcl. who we got to know, along with their close friends Fred and Mary Smith, and their two boys, about the same age as our oldest daughter, Pam. livery year the Von I ohle s, the Smith's, and the Schmitt's vacationed on Balboa Island for the month of July. After we got to know them well, wc also joined them for two weeks. 12 I never did any projects out of State. However, when I completed the Silver State Building I got a call from the President ol a large Company in Florida, who wanted me to do his corporate headquarters for him. but his staff finally talked him out of it. Maybe it was politics, but I was so new to the profession at the time that it never really bothered me. Dr. Maury Hack, a local dentist in the first dental clinic I designed on Fast Desert Inn Road bought a residential lot in N'orthstar, which is in the Reno Area. I designed a house that he and his wife were going to retire to after his successful dental practice. litis house got the attention of the Contractor who built it and he commissioned me to design four other houses in this very nice Ski and Golf Community. Iltcse were the only Projects I did out of I .as Vegas and vicinity. All projects were very important to me. given the chance that all my clients had to take, upon themselves, to go forth with them. My very last project, I somehow know that I owe to my very long time friend. Dr. Jim Nave. This Project started out very small, as an addition to the W estem \ eterinary ( onfcroncc Office Building I did about ten years before, on the southeast comer of Oqucndo Street and Pastern Avenue. Ilie Western Veterinary Conference is a very large organization of veterinarians. They have been holding their annual conferences here in Us Vegas for many years. Other architectural firms are in their Conference, to give conferences on the Design ot their Veterinary Clinics. These are really good firms, some very large. We all spent a lot ot time working to design something we didn't know where it was going. Dr. Randal Ezell. DVM. and Dr. Sterphen Crane. DVM. were very close to the Project people I was working with. Ibcy were in consultation with other members of the Staff of Western Veterinary Conference. We started working on the small existing office building on the corner of this 5 acre parcel, and as the project grew in scope, we abandoned it and concentrated on the rest of the 5 acre Parcel. It took three years of design, but we wound up with a 70.000 square foot building, and everybody was comfortable w ith it. It is called the Oqucndo Center for Clinical Education. 2425 East Oqucndo Road. I-as Vegas Nevada 89120. (www.wvc.org). I"hc American Medical Association 13 renting a house on the beach with a private boat dock for our boat. We did this for twelve years, and the children sort of grew up together, look sailing lessons, and had much fun together. A couple of years after Oscar and Carolyn Goodman came to I .as Vegas. I think I was contacted by him. I'm not exactly sure. It was about 1976.1 could have contacted him. being encouraged by a Veterinarian Client. Jim and DeDcc Nave. I designed several Veterinary Clinics tor Jim over the years, but that's another story for later. I set up a meeting with Oscar, he said that he and his wife wanted to design a house across the street from his partner. Jerry Snyder in Paradise Valley. It was a pretty large lot, and a very large house. When the plans were nearly complete (about 99%), he and his partner split up. Not knowing any of the details. Oscar and Carolyn sold the property, and immediately bought a house in Scotch Eighties. I remodeled this house, and designed a guest house in the back yard for his mother to slay when she visited them. I hey still live there. So, we vc been just very dclighttul friends ever since. They are just very special talented people! In 1979 the combined Kivvanis Clubs in I .as Vegas hosted a prayer breakfast at the