Elmo C. Bruner came to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1947 and established himself as an architect and appraiser. Born in Texas, he grew up in Oklahoma and attended Oklahoma State University. He graduated in 1931 with a BA and BS in architecture and engineering. He married Lucile Spire that same year. The couple went on to have four children: Elmo, Allen, Jerry, and Janice. After graduation, he worked for the Oklahoma State Highway Department and for several oil companies. From 1945 to 1947, he worked as an architectural engineer on the Los Alamos Project.

June F. Whitley was born in San Angelo, Texas and raised in Pittsburg, California. She met Lewis Whitley at the First Baptist Church in Pittsburg. They were married in 1955, and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1958. June found work as a maid for the Sahara Hotel before being hired at the Centel Telephone Company as an operator. In 1978, June became involved in local politics sought a seat on the Board of Regents for Clark County Community College, and eventually became the first woman Chairperson of the board.