John G. Tryon was one of the early leading figures in the Engineering Department at UNLV. He grew up in Washington, D.C., the oldest of three sons. His father worked with the National Bituminous Coal Commission during the Depression and his mother was editor of the American Association of University Women's Publications. John went directly to University of Minnesota after high school graduation and earned a bachelor's in physics. During WWII he served in the Army Signal Corps and then went back to Cornell University to get his doctorate. His post doctoral work experience includes six years at Bell Telephone Laboratories, eleven years at University of Alaska, and six years at Tuskegee Institute. In 1974, Dr. Tryon interviewed at UNLV and was hired. The faculty carefully built up the curriculum, adding classes one at a time. John introduced a senior engineering design course modeled after one that pioneered at Dartmouth. He had also introduced this particular course at University of Alaska and Tuskegee. John was a member of the Academic Standards Committee at UNLV which helped set standards for academic probation and semester length. He has strong opinions on keeping engineering students who show promise and interest, and letting go of students whose academic strengths don't match the program. He believes students need to be matched to opportunity, be given the chance to find a niche that fits, and that they should not be given inflated grades or false hope. Dr. Tryon met his wife-to-be in Ithaca, New York, while attending Cornell University. His wife's mother, who was married to a botany professor, had invited him to Sunday dinner, something she had done for a number of students. John and his wife, who eventually became an English teacher, have two sons who grew to college age while they were in Alaska. Today they enjoy their church community, their family, and their circle of friends.

The sign for Virtue Vice sits at 750 Fremont Street as part of The Venue in Downtown Las Vegas. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Sheet.
Site address: 750 Fremont St
Sign owner: Victor Perrillo
Sign details: This building was constructed in 2015 for the Venue which is a concert venue and special event center that usually holds weddings and proms. The Arizona based owners have a similar venue to this one in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Sign condition: 5- Very new and still works good
Sign form: Sign on Building
Sign-specific description: The roof line that they building has is a curved Moorish style, right below the roof line is a channeled "V" that contains incandescent light bulbs. Below this is black channeled block letters spelling out "THE VENUE" which illuminate a whitish gold color.
Sign - type of display: Neon and Incandescent light bulbs
Sign - media: Steel
Sign - non-neon treatments: Incandescent light bulbs
Sign animation: Flasher for incandescent light bulbs
Sign environment: This location is in the East District of Fremont, on the same side of the street as the El Cortez but about half a block to the East. This location is across the street from the Container Park and also has one of the "Fremont Street East District" signs in the street in front of this property.
Sign - date of installation: 2015
Sign - thematic influences: Sine they are a venue for many different events this name is perfect for the location and their sign is well representative of that.
Sign - artistic significance: The channeled "V" and words "The Venue" help contain the light.
Survey - research locations: Las Vegas Weekly article https://lasvegasweekly.com/as-we-see-it/2015/jun/03/the-venue-downtown-concert-hall-fremont-east/ , The Venue website http://thevenuesgroup.com/, acessor's page
Survey - research notes: The building was constructed for this specific company in 2015 , and previous to this it was an empty lot for a few years.
Surveyor: Emily Fellmer
Survey - date completed: 2017-09-01
Sign keywords: Neon; Incandescent; Steel; Flashing; Building-front design; Fascia