Essie Shelton Jacobs (Essie Jean Shelton) was born in Fordyce, Arkansas on July, 11, 1925. Jacobs arrived in Las Vegas 1963 and worked in housekeeping at Aladdin Hotel for twenty-three years. Active in the Culinary Union, she worked as a supervisor and shop steward.

Mary Lee Orduno (nee Ikard) was born on February 2, 1926 in Kyle, Texas. She moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and worked as a cocktail waitress and married Ralph Orduno in Las Vegas in December 1968.