Oral history interview with Robert Kneoki conducted by Dave Harelik on March 14, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Kneoki discusses growth, crime, and religion in Nevada. He also talks about the silver mines, MX missiles, and transient people.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Fred Keeton conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on October 20, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Keeton discusses his early life in Mississippi. He talks about the complexity of corporate diversity and the importance of inclusion for business ecosystems. Lastly, Keeton describes how Caesars Palace has developed their business performance, the idea of Complexity Science, and complex adaptive systems.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Patsy Leavitt conducted by Elizabeth Neumann on March 17, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Leavitt discusses her maternal grandmother, who brought her mother and uncle to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1931, and explains how her grandmother opened a boardinghouse that she ran until her death in 1948. She then discusses her father's family, who arrived in Las Vegas in the late 1920s and established a sand and gravel business. She discusses her education and marriage, and reflects on Las Vegas in the 1950s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ray Ruff conducted by Scott Benjamin on March 13, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Ruff discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada from Chicago, Illinois in 1954. Ruff also discusses his employment and the environment at the Desert Inn Hotel. Ruff later discusses golf and Las Vegas politicians.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Russel Howard conducted by James W. Howard on January 10, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Howard recalls being transferred to Las Vegas, Nevada for work in 1947 and how impressed he was by the number of celebrities from the movie and entertainment industry that frequented Las Vegas in the early 1950s. He also discusses the expansion of the Las Vegas Strip and how rapidly the number of hotels grew.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Hubert Sampley conducted by Karen Franke on February 24, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sampley discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1950. Sampley details his career at an oil refinery, farm, as well as his career in the U.S. Air Force. Sampley also describes the gaming industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Russell Harvey conducted by Claytee D. White on May 20, 2016 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Harvey discusses his upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada and growing up in the Westside community. He talks about recreation activities he participated in, the discrimination he experienced, and integration in Las Vegas in 1960. Harvey remembers attending Nevada Southern University (now University of Nevada, Las Vegas), working stage production for shows on the Strip, and being a member of the Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local Union 720. Lastly, Harvey discusses his involvement with the Nevada Minority Purchasing Council.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with James Whitney conducted by Anna Huddleston on January 24, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Whitney discusses his involvement with the beverage and restaurant industry in Las Vegas, Nevada and life in the city during the 1960s. Whitney describes working as an alcohol distributor and salesman and driving around rural Nevada and the surrounding states selling liquor. Whitney talks about prominent locations and eateries in the Las Vegas area, and what he likes about living in the desert compared to his former residence in Chicago, Illinois. Whitney also discusses the presence of organized crime in Las Vegas and his associations with the mob through his family and his business.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dee Hicks conducted by Emily Powers on May 4, 2008 for the Heart to Heart Oral History Project. Hicks discusses working as a nurse and an administrator at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also discusses her volunteer work on issues relating to nursing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Howard Heckethorn conducted by Neil Dalmas on March 02, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. This interview offers an overview of early education in Nevada. Mr. Heckethorn also discusses Stewart Ranch, Howard Hughes and the Hughes Site, and the migration of the Mormons to the Las Vegas area.
Archival Collection