Kent Carmichael, lighting engineer and artist, is responsible for many of the most iconic signs in Las Vegas history. Kent Carmichael was born in December 1933 in Burbank, California, drafted for Korean War as a football player for the U.S. Navy, and served overseas in Korea. After being discharged in 1956 in Long Beach he began working for Interstate Neon for Max and Mo Oggenblick.

Karen Carmichael, professional dancer, performer, and designer, was born Karen Rau in Gulfport Mississippi. She attended high school in Dayton Ohio where she developed a love of journalism and first began to dance. She was scouted by the Tibor Rudas theatrical organization and went to train in Montreal.