Oral history interviews with James Dean Leavitt conducted by Claytee D. White on September 27 and October 4, 2022 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Leavitt recalls his role in establishing a medical school at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), now known as Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine. Leavitt was elected to the Board of Regents in 2004 while Jim Rogers was interim Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), and he suggested the creation of an ad hoc committee Health Science Center Committee. In 2009, Leavitt became Chairman of the Board of Regents, Dan Klaich became Chancellor, and in the following year, Dr. Mark Doubrava joined the board. In May 2014, the planning dean was hired, Dr. Barbara Atkinson, and the UNLV School of Medicine was officially established on August 22, 2014.
Information about the LaPalm Motel sign that sits at 2512 Fremont St. Site address: 2512 Fremont St Sign owner: La Palm Motel Inc Sign details: Property originally constructed in 1963 on 0.33 acres. Sign condition: 3 - the sign is in decent condition and appears worn from weather. It is unclear if the sign still lights up at night. Sign form: Roadside pole sign Sign-specific description: This pole roadside sign has a simple design. A large black pole supports the other elements for this sign. The top portion of the sign features a plastic, backlit sign reading "La Palm" in a black, serif text. Underneath the "lm" of the "La Palm" sign is a series of open channel letters spelling out "MOTEL" against a faded teal background. This portion of the sign is also a thin, rectangular shape allowing for an open space between the "MOTEL" of the sign and the pole that supports it. Underneath the "L" of the "MOTEL" is the bottom portion of the sign that is attached to the pole. This portion of the sign features a plastic, backlit sign reading "DAILY WEEKLY CABLE TV POOL KITCHENETTES LAUNDROMAT" in bold red letters against a white background. Under this is the word "VACANCY" painted in bold white text. Neon tubes spell out "NO" and outline "VACANCY." Along the outer edge of this sign facing Fremont, the sign is painted a pale yellow with incandescent light bulbs lining this section. Sign - type of display: Neon, indandescent, backlit Sign - media: Steel and plastic Sign - non-neon treatments: Paint Sign environment: This property sits at the corner of East Charleston and Fremont in an area filled with many other smaller motels. There is a Pepe's Taco and Lowe's Home Improvement that close to this motel. Sign - date of installation: Possibly c. 1963 Sign - thematic influences: There is no exact theme replicated in this sign. It does look similar to other motel signs throughout the city since it sits directly along the roadside allowing motorist and pedestrians to see it easily. Sign - artistic significance: This sign is a standard example of motel signage because it features the basic elements of a roadside motel sign. It has the name of the property, the word "motel", and other amenities that they may offer. Survey - research locations: Assessor's website Survey - research notes: http://www.roadsidepeek.com/roadusa/southwest/nevada/vegas/lvmotel/lvdownmotel/index4.htm Survey - other remarks: There is not a date of any specific redesign of this sign; however, based on an earlier image of this sign the font in the "La Palm" portion of the sign did change somewhere along the way during the time this property has been around. Surveyor: Lauren Vaccaro Survey - date completed: 2017-09-10 Sign keywords: Neon; Incandescent; Backlit; Steel; Plastic; Paint; Pole sign; Roadside