Oral history interview with Richard A. Leigon conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on January 12, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Leigon discusses John S. Park Elementary School, John C. Fremont Junior High School, and Boy Scout Troop 69 at Griffith Methodist Church. Leigon also discusses his father’s, Ralph A. Leigon, contributions to Las Vegas, Nevada, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), and his own lengthy career with IBEW that bridged labor management.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Chuck Degarmo conducted by Stefani Evans on January 13, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Also present during the interview was Po-Sun Chen. Degarmo discusses his childhood, his early interest in landscaping, and obtaining his Bachelors of Science degree in Ornamental Horticulture at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; with a concentration in Landscape Construction. Degarmo and Chen give their history in landscape construction, maintenance, development, and its intersection with ValleyCrest Landscape Development (now BrightView). They then explain how they landscaped some the largest hotel properties on the Las Vegas Strip, Summerlin Parkway, and Station Casinos.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Saul Wesley conducted by David Schwartz on January 13, 2017 for the Slot Operations Oral History Project. Wesley discusses the distinction between the roles of a director and of a vice president in slot management. He also describes how the slot department works within various casinos such as the MGM Grand Hotel (now Bally’s) and the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Timothy Harney conducted by Sherrae Chesmore on February 26, 2006 for the Public School Principalship Oral History project. In his interview Harney discusses his experiences as public school teacher and principal in Southern Nevada. He also talks about what a typical day for a principal is like and what the expectation of teachers and principals are.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jay Duarte conducted by David Schwartz on January 27, 2017 for the Slot Operations Oral History Project. Duarte gives a description of the various positions and roles he has held in Station Casinos and other properties on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip. Duarte then explains how the slot department works with other casino departments, and later describes the qualities that make both good and bad slot managers.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with James Ralph “Jim” Olson conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee White on February 02, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Olson discusses his firm, Cromer, Barker, and Michaelson; representing Las Vegas, Nevada properties such as the MGM Grand Hotel and the Las Vegas Hilton. He also talks about litigation between Hank Greenspun, Howard Hughes, and Hughes Tool Company.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Patricia "Pat" Marchese and Lamar Marchese conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on February 7, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Lamar discusses coming to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1972 from Kentucky as a new hire at the Clark County Library District. He then recalls the founding and early years of KNPR Public Radio station and remembers serving on the Las Vegas Clark County Library District (LVCCLD) board in 1990s when employees voted to unionize. Pat talks about her work with the City of Las Vegas Cultural Affairs Department, through which she developed the Reed Whipple Cultural Center and founded the Rainbow Company and the Junior Symphony, among other arts programming, and her work with Clark County as a lobbyist, budget analyst, and coordinator for Town Services.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Don Ross conducted by Barbara Tabach on February 15, 2017 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Ross talks about his Jewish upbringing, and education in Brewster, New York. He also discusses how his interest in hotel catering, conventions and events, has led him to working in the hospitality industry for nearly three decades in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Mary Laub oral history interview conducted by Wendy Starkweather on December 2, 2013 for West Charleston Neighborhoods-- An Oral History Project of Ward 1. Mary Laub discussed her move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1954, her home in Rancho Circle, and career, including her work as founder of the Las Vegas Assistance League.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Thalia Dondero conducted by Claytee D. White on 2014 March 6 and April 2 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In her interview Dondero discusses community organizing in early Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1960s. Dondero also talks about her time in the state legislature.
Archival Collection