Ivory H. Blue II was born and raised Las Vegas, specifically in the Westside neighborhood projects during the 1980s and 1990s. He describes his early childhood and what he remembers as a strong sense of community. Though grade school had its challenges, Ivory excelled in sciences and came under the watchful mentoring of Dr. Eugene McGaugh, a professor at UNLV. Ivory graduated with a master’s degree and has a long career already with NV Energy. Theresa Harris, Ivory’s mother, was from Hawthorne, Nevada and his father, Ivory Blue I, was originally from Edwards, Mississippi.
Shawn Willis (1972 - ) grew up in a culturally diverse area outside of Detroit, Michigan. She has made Las Vegas her home since 2004. Since moving to Nevada, she ?acknowledged? her Judaism and built a robust network within the Jewish community as an entrepreneur and tireless leader. From 2015 ? 2017, she held the position of Director of the Jewish National Fund of Las Vegas. The Jewish National Fund is a worldwide organization that was founded in 1901 to meet the strategic challenges of building in Israel and developing the infrastructure for ecology, special needs and heritage preservation. Among the local initiatives that Shawn led was a program on water conservation. In this oral history, Shawn candidly speaks of being a convert to Judaism. She also shares how she introduced herself into the Las Vegas community in a vibrant way through her marketing expertise and business. Shawn currently serves on the UNLV Foundation?s President?s Associates Council and is an active person in the Las Vegas community. Shawn is a graduate of University of Detroit Mercy.
This photograph has three images. The first one, (0272_0011) depicts two people. It reads, "Georgia and I at entrance to top of dam. Head tower of massif government hi-line, to handle 50 ton sections of pipe," as a handwritten inscription. The second one, (0272_0012), also shows two people and reads "York and Georgia." The third one, (0272_0013) that's rotated reads "Another view of head tower of government line; notice large 6 cables it uses," as a handwritten inscription.
This photograph has three images. The first one (0272_0017) rotated to the left reads, "High mixing plant (blending and mixing plant," as a handwritten inscription. The second one (0272_0018) reads "Shay engine used at mixing plant. Instead of pistons or drivers, wheels are turned by screws; screw driven," as a handwritten inscription. The third one (0272_0019) is a picture of two people, and it reads, "York and Georgia at screening plant,"on the back.
This photograph has three images. The first one (0272_0093) is an upside-down picture that reads, "York, nice friend with a car. We would drive around and take some pictures." The second one (0272_0092) shows John Kizziar (left) and York (right). The third image (0272_0091) is a picture of John T. Kizziar.
A Union Pacific Railroad train as a part of the construction for Hoover Dam. The front of the card reads: "First train in railroad pass, Boulder Dam Project, Oakes." Description given with postcard: "SP, LA & SL (UPRR) locomotive 6082 in Railroad Pass. Maybe spreading ballast on track."