James Deacon was born at home in White, South Dakota. For the first few years of his life, the family moved around a lot to accommodate his father's job as school superintendent. Their summers were spent in a cabin on a lake, where Jim helped his grandparents in their store, seining minnows, clerking, and putting up ice. From his eighth grade year through high school graduation, the family lived in Aberdeen, which was the largest city (population 25,000) they had lived in Jim attended college on a tuition scholarship in Wichita Falls, Texas. He majored in biology and education, and then went to grad school at the University of Kansas. His favorite undergraduate professor knew the fish expert there and encouraged Jim to study fish. Instead of completing a master's degree, Jim went straight into the Ph.D. program. He graduated in the summer of 1960, and started applying for jobs. He interviewed with Dean Bill Carlson for a job at UNLV, which was then called University of Nevada Southern Regional Division. In 1964, Jim and his family moved to Reno and he taught two summers at UNR. As professor of biology, Jim focused on getting students involved in field studies as well as classroom work. He was instrumental in organizing the Department of Environmental Studies, which started in 1992. He also helped develop a master's program and a Ph.D. program in biology. He is best known for his expertise and involvement in the study of the Devil's Hole pup fish, an endangered Nevada species of fish.

Mary Laub and husband William “Bill” Laub first came to Las Vegas in 1954, eventually establishing permanent residency with their five children four years later. Bill’s work with his family’s business, Southwest Gas Corporation, brought the Laub’s to the city from their lifetime home of California. Unable to find a home adequate for their large family, the Laubs ordered a home, which was shipped to Las Vegas and built on their lot in Rancho Circle. Mary’s “claim to fame” is founding the Las Vegas Assistance League chapter in 1976, serving her community through this organization for decades after. Her concern for the viability of Assistance League led her to start a thrift store to finance organizational operations, as well as solicit donations from entities like the Reynolds Foundation and Andre Agassi Foundation. To this day, the Assistance League continues many of the programs Mary started, including providing clothing to local children and the thrift store. Mary still lives in the family’s Rancho Circle home, in a community to which her and her husband dedicated themselves. In addition to his successful career with Southwest Gas, Bill was appointed by then Governor Laxalt as chairman of the Nevada Equal Rights Commission, and he also served as a Republican National Committeeman for over a decade. Mary’s work with the Assistance League was so meaningful that it established an annual Mary Laub award for other enduring volunteers. She also served on the local library board of trustees, and was involved with the Junior League for many years.

The Flippin' Good Burgers and Shakes sign sits at 505 Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 505 Fremont St
Sign owner: Frederick Mossler. Owned by Honus Capital, Jaimee Oliver principal owner.
Sign details: Opened 2015 used to be Uncle Joes Pizza - closed 2014.
Sign condition: 5, newer sign
Sign form: Blade
Sign-specific description: Orange blade sign over the main entrance, with brown and red accent color. An image of a burger and shake at the top, with the words "burgers" vertical in the center of the sign, and the word "shake" at the very bottom.
Sign - type of display: Neon
Sign - media: Steel
Sign environment: On Fremont Street next to the Griffin and Le Thai. At the Intersection of Las Vegas BLVD and Fremont.
Sign manufacturer: Federal Heath
Sign designer: Keith Grossman
Sign - date of installation: Aug. 2015
Sign - artistic significance: Although a new sign, it appears it was meant to mimic diner signs from the 1950s.
Survey - research locations: Email Correspondence with Jaimee Oliver, One of the Principal Officers
Survey - research notes: https://vegas.eater.com/2017/8/8/16110798/flippin-good-burgers-temporary-shutter-remodel
Surveyor: Wyatt Currie-Diamond
Survey - date completed: 2017-09-01
Sign keywords: Blade; Neon; Steel; Plastic; Backlit