Louise Lorenzi Fountain was born on Nov. 14, 1913, to David Lorenzi, a French immigrant, and Julia Travese Moore from La Belle, Missouri. Her younger years were devoted to helping her father develop and manage Lorenzi Lake Park, which was built by Lorenzi and is considered a primary landmark in the development and life of the citizens of Las Vegas. Louise Lorenzi's father has been noted as one of the 100 most influential citizens of Las Vegas by the Las Vegas Review Journal. He opened the park in 1926 with a pair of man-made lakes and a swimming pool, dance hall, band shell and other amenities. In the interview, Louise talks about her father and mother and describes Las Vegas during its early years. Louise Lorenzi married Edgar Fountain in 1936. He had hitchhiked from Georgia in search of work on the construction of Boulder Dam, now Hoover Dam. The couple left Las Vegas for 10 years and lived in Grand Coulee, Washington, where he helped build Grand Coulee Dam. After returning to Las Vegas, Louise became a full partner in several business ventures the couple started. Those included the Nevada Amusement Co., a collection of 35 coin-operated phonograph machines; Frontier Radio and Appliance Co.; and later a television sales business; partnerships in two soft-drink bottling companies and a Toyota dealership. Louise Lorenzi Fountain was active in two Methodist churches and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. She was a charter member and regent of the Valley of Fire Chapter of The Daughters of the American Revolution. Louise Lorenzi Fountain passed away on January 29, 2006 at 92 years of age.

Cindy Funkhouser grew up in the Midwest where she developed an early interest in "old stuff' as she refers to it. Her self-education in antiques spawned her business, Funk House, which she opened in 2001. Cindy is one of the forces behind the Downtown's arts movement and the development of First Friday, which was inspired by her observations of a similar event in Portland, OR. Cindy moved to Las Vegas around 1980. Her parents had moved to the valley in the late 1970s. When not working as a cocktail waitress at the Four Queens—a downtown casino where she was employed for 14 years—she pursued her interest in vintage items as a part-time business. Today others look to Cindy as a motivator for First Friday and the Las Vegas art movement that is deeply rooted in the John S. Park Neighborhood's sense of community.

Darwin Gidel, born in 1924, grew up in Rockwell City, Iowa. He describes his childhood activities, schooling, and the jobs he held as a teenager. After graduating from high school in June of '42, Darwin immediately joined the military. His basic training took him from Minneapolis to Missouri, after which he was stationed in Nebraska, California, Florida, and South Carolina for further training. As he recalls his early military training, Darwin also evokes the patriotic fervor that gripped the country. He shares stories about the kindnesses he and many other enlistees received from individuals and families, ranging from rides to dinners to overnights. Darwin's overseas assignment was in London, England, beginning in November of 1943. He vividly recalls the bombing raids he flew and describes them from beginning to end. His B-l 7 was shot down over Belgium in March of 1944, and he and eight other crew members were held as POWs for eleven months. Much of Darwin's incarceration was in a Luftwaffe Hospital in Brussels, where his injured leg was removed. His memories include hospital personnel, solitary confinement, interrogation, and later being moved around to many different prisons in Germany. He clearly recalls relationships among prisoners, the configuration of German prisons, types of food served to inmates, and finally his repatriation from Annenberg Castle in Germany. After the war, Darwin earned a degree in accounting on the Gl Bill, which eventually led to general administration work in Sacramento. Along the way he married and had four children. After his wife passed away in the late seventies. Darwin eventually relocated to Las Vegas and remarried. He describes the city, recalls the small town atmosphere, and compares the impersonal bottom-line attitude of modem casinos to the folksy, welcoming feel of those establishments in the early eighties.

Reva Giles grew up in the little town of New Carlisle, Indiana. She was one of twelve children, learning from an early age to share, to give and take, and to appreciate hand-me-downs. Her mother stayed home with the children, and her father worked for Studebaker, a large automobile manufacturer. Right after high school graduation, Reva moved to Redland, California, to live with a sister, working first at an ice cream place and then a bank. Reva married a military man, and she and their three sons followed him as he was transferred first to Las Vegas, then Okinawa, and finally Utah. When he retired in 1964, they returned to Las Vegas, where he went to work for Pete Findlay Oldsmobile. Their ' middle son Stuart played football at UNLV, and Reva got involved in fundraising and ticket sales for the team. Reva always enjoyed helping students, and from the ticket office she moved into admissions, and then student services. She worked for Drs. Ackerman and Burns helping to certify athletes, and from there went into career services, helping students find jobs and practice interview techniques. After Reva retired, Susie Smith asked her to come back and help, which Reva did gladly. She volunteers as an office aide to Susie as well as Mike Hamrick, athletic director at UNLV. Mike worked with Reva back in the eighties when he was a graduate student, and they have kept in touch through the years. Reva recalls the university campus when there were only two buildings, and was there for much of the new growth. She is familiar with the history of the Millennium Scholarship, the impact of Tarkanian's Runnin' Rebels on the community and school, and the North-South rivalry between UNLV and UNR's teams. Reva and her family have supported UNLV teams for many years, and she has many anecdotes concerning team trips.

Martha Gould and Joan Kerschner have been instrumental in most phases of library development in Nevada - from the branch to the state library. Their stories are fascinating and cover the techniques of moving a physical library to installing massive computer systems. They became librarians as young women and worked their entire careers in the field. Their memories add depth and profound meaning to the work of librarians. Gould grew up in a small mill town on the Sugar River and attended the University of Michigan. A librarian at Dartmouth College gave her a job and then insisted that she return to school for a master's degree. She earned her MS in Library Science from Simmons College. Kerschner hails from the Midwest, growing up in Abe Lincoln country. As a young girl, she went into their little Carnegie Library to rest and to view photographs on the stereograph while in town shopping with her family. She attended college across the river at Kentucky Wesleyan College and then earned a master's in library science at Indiana University. Martha and Joan have lobbied and testified before assembly committees to help bring libraries in Nevada to their current standing. This interview is about serious work told by two women, one who became state librarian, who look back over their many accomplishments with laughter and great joy.

Peter Gratton was born in 1944 in Staten Island, New York, where his father was in the Coast Guard. However, he spent his childhood in Minnesota. From 1965 to 1969, Peter was a member of the US Marine Corps, serving a tour in Vietnam. As his military duty was ending, he learned that his parents were relocating to Vegas, bringing with them all of Peter's belongings. So Peter caught up with them in Vegas where he transitioned to civilian life in a new city by "bumming around for a couple of months." He decided to stay and took a keno job at Golden Gate Casino. In 1981, he graduated from UNLV and was accredit to teach history and earth science. This proved to be a good background for an opening at the UNLV library and he helped organize the map collection. With that, his UNLV library career was successfully launched. At the time of this interview, Peter was Administrative Assistant III Lied Library Building Department. In the following pages Peter tells of his experiences that lead up to becoming a Las Vegas resident and longtime member of the UNLV library staff.

Ken Hanlon was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1941. He attended 2nd grade through high school in Parkville schools. He took up his first instrument, the snare drum, at the age often, and by eighth grade had taken up baritone horn and trombone. His parents were very supportive of his interests. Ken developed a very strong work ethic early on, through the influence and example of his parents. He earned money in high school to pay for things he wanted by assisting on a paper route. He also took private lessons, which he paid for, and played in a dance band. After graduation, he attended Peabody Conservatory on a scholarship. He finished his last two years there with the principal of the Baltimore Symphony. He taught at Peabody Preparatory for seven years as undergraduate and graduate. He continued his Master's degree at Peabody Conservatory while working as a public school instrumental music teacher. He also played in the rock and roll band and worked in a city concert band. In 1968, Ken and his family moved to Las Vegas. He connected with the Si Zentner band and went on the road with him, then played in hotels up and down the Strip. Ken worked in bands that backed many famous headliners and has many anecdotes and memorable stories to share about those days. In 1970, Ken interviewed with Howard Chase, chair of the music department at UNLV. He was hired and his first UNLV job at the age of 29 was chair of the music department. He kept this position for 16 years, with one year off to establish residency for his doctorate. Dr. Hanlon has had a long and varied career, filled with people, places and events vital to the music industry. Today he continues to teach a graduate course, is currently Las Vegas president of the International Trombone Association, and runs the Arnold Shaw Popular Music Research Center.