Emory and Agnes Lockette met while they were both in college; she in Albany, Georgia, and he in Dawson, Georgia. He studied architectural and structural engineering. They secretly married in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1949 and moved to Boulder City in 1953 where they were the only African Americans during a time of tense race relations. She earned graduate degrees, including a doctorate in early childhood education, at UNLV. Initially, Mrs.

Jack Entratter (1914-1971) was an executive and show producer at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1952 until his death in 1971. He is credited with elevating the quality of shows produced on the Strip and helping the city become the "entertainment capital of the world." Entratter moved to Las Vegas in 1952 as a co-owner of the Sands Hotel. He produced the hotel's shows and served as vice president (1952-1960, 1967-1971) and president (1960-1967).