Oral history interview with Victoria and Brad Babich conducted by Claytee D. White on November 22, 2013 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, the Babich couple describe their family histories and life in Las Vegas, Nevada during the mid-twentieth century. Brad Babich discusses his father's work in the gaming industry of Las Vegas, the prevalence of organized crime in the city, the influence of Howard Hughes and the federal government, and other aspects of Las Vegas history. He also talks about nuclear weapons tests at the Nevada Test Site and the health problems some employees acquired there. The two talk about recreational activities of the time, as well as the entertainers that performed on the Las Vegas Strip. Other topics of discussion include race relations in Las Vegas, casino history, and changes that have occurred over the years in the city.
Oral history interview with Sally Harviel and Judy MacMillan conducted by Claytee D. White on July 21, 2016 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the first part of the interview, Harviel discusses her early life moving around the United States, her marriages, and moving to Henderson, Nevada in 1990. She recalls being a founding member of the Desert Newcomers Club, a non-profit social organization for women living in Henderson and Boulder City, Nevada. She also describes events the Desert Newcomers Club held within the Las Vegas, Nevada community throughout the years. In the second part of the interview, MacMillan recalls her early life in California, moving to Las Vegas sometime after her marriage, and her work as a Desert Newcomers Club board member. Lastly, Harviel and MacMillan discuss the Las Vegas community's interest in community projects and women's societies of which they belonged.
Oral history interview with Charles Rozaire conducted by Claytee D. White on November 25, 2013 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Rozaire begins by giving a comprehensive family history, discussing family who have lived in Virginia City, Nevada, his grandfather that lived in Canada who moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue a career as a painter, and explaining how his mother and father met. He continues, describing his upbringing in California and attending University of California, Los Angeles to pursue a degree in anthropology based off of his interest in Native American history. He also talks about his work as an assistant with the Southwest Museum of the American Indian. Rozaire then discusses his participation in the archaeological studies done in Tule Springs, Nevada during the 1950s. Helen Mortenson, Stephen M. Rowland, Claude N. Warren, and Elizabeth Warren were also present during the interview.
Oral history interview with Holbert Hendrix conducted by Keith Thomas on February 20, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. The two discuss changes at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, including construction, when the university began awarding degrees, and Hendrix’s reasons for moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. Hendrix then describes changes to the Strip and how the hotel industry has changed since he first arrived in Nevada. The interview concludes with Hendrix contemplating new problems that may arise in Las Vegas and his hopes that the Nevada state government would invest more into funding for education.
Oral history interview with Tom Hawley conducted by Claytee D. White and Su Kim Chung on September 21, 2021 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
Tom Hawley was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico, but found home in Las Vegas, Nevada where his father worked as a professional musician. A local historian and TV reporter from a helicopter, Hawley reported the traffic and contributed local stories of great interest. After radio and TV jobs in the mid-1980s, Tom began reporting in 1988 and joined the News 3 team in 1995. Outside of the workplace, he enjoyed classical music and hiking. He played with the Henderson Symphony where his instrument was the string bass. Hiking has taken him to the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and to the apex of Mount Charleston. Three weeks after the conclusion of this interview, Tom Hawley passed away after his battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 60 years old.
Subjects discussed include: Star Policy; Production Shows; KUNV; Bob Stoldal; Henderson Symphony.
Oral history interview with Edward Baca conducted by Claytee D. White on January 28, 2016 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Baca opens his interview describing his parents and his youth in Wyoming. He then discusses moving to Bryce, Utah in the 1940s, his career in coal mining, and the process of removing coal from the mine. Baca describes his brief time working for the federal government, going to trade school to learn morse code, and working for the railroad. He then talks about switching careers to to work as an air conditioning insulator, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1969. Baca then describes how he found religion, his efforts to learn more about Christianity, and forming a ministry where he preaches. He discusses his Christian radio program, his singing ministry, and his efforts to save a Christian radio station from closing. Lastly, Baca discusses his religious music albums, touring in a religious music group, and faith healing.
Oral history interview with Hildred Meidell conducted by Greg Abbott on February 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Meidell covers a range of topics about living in Las Vegas, Nevada, from her and her husband’s time as tourists in the city and their subsequent retirement to Las Vegas from Los Angeles, California. Meidell describes the Las Vegas Strip, the interstate and highway conditions between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, as well as their numerous visits to Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam). Moreover, she speaks about the changing layout of the city, the increase in shopping centers and department stores, and the clothing stores inside of hotels. Lastly, Meidell talks about the prominence of churches in local communities, the atomic testing program and the structural damages these tests caused in her neighborhood, and the influence of the railroad and passenger train on the town.
Oral history interview with Agnes and Emory Lockette conducted by Claytee D. White on March 11, 2005 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Emory discusses his education in architectural and structural engineering. Agnes describes her education in early childhood education, teaching in the Westside and at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Emory then recalls his employment at the Bureau of Reclamation. Lastly, the two share their active involvement with the Boulder City, Nevada community.
Oral history interview with Rose and Librado Ramos, Jr. conducted by Robert S. Clark on March 15, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Rose and Librado Ramos begin by discussing Rose's father who immigrated from Mexico to Nevada to work for the Union Pacific Railroad. They describe life in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1940s, how the city has changed and grown, and nuclear weapons testing. The two also discuss the history of Nellis Air Force Base, the killing of Bugsy Siegel, how the casinos used to treat their customers, and the economic impact gaming and tourism have on Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with Woodrow Wilson conducted by Gwendolyn Goodloe on February 28, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Woodrow Wilson discusses working at the Basic Magnesium plant and about becoming the first African American elected to the Nevada Assembly in 1966. He also discusses serving as president of the Las Vegas, Nevada chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples in 1951 and how he was a co-founder of the Westside Federal Credit Union.