Oral history interview with Thomas Young Jr. conducted by Stefani Evans on October 20, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Young Jr. discusses his early life in Ogden, Utah and his father’s sign manufacturing business, Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO). Young Jr. recalls the company’s growth, the management style that his father used, and the early signs they designed. He talks about the jobs he held at the company, the use of neon gas in signs, and bringing their company to Las Vegas, Nevada. Lastly, Young Jr. describes the early signs that were done for Las Vegas properties, moving neon figure signs, and building a headquarters in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Image
Oral history interview with Dave Pugsley conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on October 21, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Pugsley discusses his early life in Salt Lake City, Utah and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1963. He talks about his father’s employment with Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO) and the Nevada Test Site. Pugsley recalls his initial interest in architecture, drawing a construction document for the Home Builders Association while in high school, and attending the University of Utah for a degree in architecture. Pugsley then talks about building planning for schools in Clark County, the process of designing a school, and the challenges that arise. Lastly, Pugsley discusses building planning for Lied Library and the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
Archival Collection
A worker is shown with the head of Vegas Vic (for the Pioneer Club in Las Vegas), prior to having neon tubing installed, in the YESCO shop in Salt Lake City.
Site Name: Young Electric Sign Company
Address: 1148 South 300 West
Image
Two men look at the unfinished body of Vegas Vic (for the Pioneer Club in Las Vegas) leaning against the outside of the YESCO shop in Salt Lake City.
Site Name: Young Electric Sign Company
Address: 1148 South 300 West
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image