Oral history interview with Julie McDonald conducted by Michael Richardson on March 14, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, McDonald describes life in Las Vegas, Nevada after moving there in 1956, as well as the city's layout. McDonald also passionately describes the complexities, perks, and pitfalls she faced while working as a card dealer in various casinos.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Erick Spiess conducted by Thomas Barr on March 18, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Spiess discusses his personal history and how he came to Las Vegas, Nevada. Spiess describes how Las Vegas and its casinos have changed, construction projects he has worked on, and his interest in inventing. Spiess also discusses his career as the electrical inspector at the Nevada Test Site, how and why the nuclear tests were conducted, and the commercial applications of the tests. He goes on to talk about radiation and the effects of nuclear fallout.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Helen Early conducted by Dale Forshee on February 26, 1979 and February 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Early talks about some of the first businesses in Las Vegas, Nevada, the initial development of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the early nightclubs and casinos in the city. Early also discusses her work in establishing a school for disabled children.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Earl R. Sorom conducted by his son, Earl M. Sorom, on March 06, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sorom discusses his personal history and Las Vegas, Nevada. Sorom describes his life before moving to Nevada to work at the Nevada Test Site, and later working there as a contractor for Reynolds Electrical and Engineering Co., Inc. (REECO). Sorom discusses his career in radiological health, nuclear tests that he was involved with, and radioactive decontamination of the Test Site. Sorom goes on to discuss his interest in gardening, his travels, and how Las Vegas has changed.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Isaac Barrón conducted by Maribel Estrada Calderón and Claytee D. White on March 27, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Isaac Barrón was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. His father entered the United States as a Bracero. Barrón attended Rancho High School and earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education from UNLV. He currently teaches history at Rancho High School and serves as North Las Vegas' Councilman. In this oral history, Barrón recalls his youth in North Las Vegas, navigating the presence of gangs, and his path to being a community activist and advocate for North Las Vegas youth. He has led volunteer efforts for community improvement projects, including the plans for a new public library. He holds the distinction of being the first Latinx member of the North Las Vegas City Council and Southern Nevada's first Hispanic Mayor Pro Tempore. In 2013, he was elected to represent Ward 1 and was reelected for a second term in April 2017. He discusses being Mexican American, the Coalition of Pan American Organizations, the Hispanic Student Union, the Bracero Program, and Rancho High School.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Steven D. McCoy conducted by Hope Vigil-Delgado on November 26, 2001 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, McCoy reflects upon his 33-year career as a teacher and administrator with Nevada’s Clark County School District. He describes the process by which he became a teacher, and discusses how his teaching experience shaped his approach to school administration. He discusses his experience at Roy Martin Middle School, and describes the student cultural diversity and bilingual education programs within the school. He also discusses various programs that he implemented at various schools, and describes his approach to teacher evaluations and dismissals.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with George Wallace conducted by Claytee D. White on April 10, 2009 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. Wallace begins the interview by discussing his upbringing in Atlanta, Georgia, his extensive family, and attending college at the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio to study transportation. He describes having a career in advertising in New York City, New York before moving to Los Angeles, California, where he made the career transition into stand-up comedy. Wallace details his career as a successful comedian, writing for The Redd Foxx Show, going on tour with musicians such as Diana Ross and Tom Jones, and having his own running show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Other topics of discussion also include Wallace's friendship with fellow comedian Jerry Seinfeld, being awarded "Best Male Comedian" by the American Comedy Awards in 1995, and the changes Wallace has noticed in comedy and African American culture.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Margarita Rebollal conducted by Marcela Rodriguez-Campo and Barbara Tabach on February 28, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Margarita Rebollal is a lifelong community organizer and advocate for Latinx civic engagement and rights. She shares what it was like to grow up in Ponce, Puerto Rico and shares her childhood memories growing up on the island with her siblings. Rebollal also discusses the death of her father and the eventual move of her family to New York City, New York. She also recalls her education and teen years. Later, she would move to California, and eventually find her way to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1996. Rebollal discusses her passion for civic engagement and the many years serving the community, being most well-known for her role in founding the Puerto Rican Association of Las Vegas and the Hispanic International Day Parade of Nevada. Rebollal also discusses her campaign for the Ward 1 Las Vegas City Council seat.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jocelyn Cortez conducted by Nathalie Martinez on May 18, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Cortez discusses her family history in El Salvador and her parents' emigration to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1980. She talks about the challenge of adjusting to city life, growing up on the Eastside of Las Vegas, and her educational experience. Cortez describes her involvement in the Student Organization of Latinos (SOL), and attending law school at the University of Arizona. Later, Cortez discusses the challenges of being an immigration attorney, and being elected president of the Latino Bar Association. Lastly, Cortez talks about changes in Las Vegas and the Latinx community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Chuck Degarmo conducted by Stefani Evans on January 13, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Also present during the interview was Po-Sun Chen. Degarmo discusses his childhood, his early interest in landscaping, and obtaining his Bachelors of Science degree in Ornamental Horticulture at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; with a concentration in Landscape Construction. Degarmo and Chen give their history in landscape construction, maintenance, development, and its intersection with ValleyCrest Landscape Development (now BrightView). They then explain how they landscaped some the largest hotel properties on the Las Vegas Strip, Summerlin Parkway, and Station Casinos.
Archival Collection