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Oral history interview with Ricardo Jimenez conducted by Andres Moses on September 18, 2005 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Jimenez discusses his personal history growing up in Los Angeles, California. He recalls visiting Las Vegas, Nevada in 1972 and describes the Las Vegas Strip at the time. Jimenez discusses his move to Las Vegas and living on the East Side during the late 1970s. Lastly, Jimenez recalls his education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, starting his own business, and entering the landscaping industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with David L. Washington conducted by Claytee D. White on March 18, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Washington discusses his personal history, education, experiences in the military, and becoming a firefighter in Las Vegas, Nevada. Washington talks about his employment at the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue department, explains the procedures for certain fire emergencies, and what it was like when women joined the department in the 1960s. Finally, he recalls becoming the City of Las Vegas Fire Chief.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John Cahlan conducted by Lester Wisbrod on February 18, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Cahlan discusses his experiences in journalism, including his work as an editor for the Review Journal. He provides details on some of the major events covered by the newspaper and his work in establishing Nellis Air Force Base. Cahlan also describes some of the social changes over time, including the growth of air travel for tourism and gambling.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bruce Layne conducted by Claytee D. White on 2004 June 18, June 29, July 13, and July 20 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Bruce Layne discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1955 at ten years old, his two childhood friends Governor Bob Miller and Tito Tiberti, and becoming president of Layne and Associates, the largest insurance agency in Nevada. He then discusses the growth of Las Vegas, life in Las Vegas, having Parkinson's disease, running for lieutenant governor, and his insurance business.
Archival Collection
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Oral history interview with Otto Merida conducted by Claytee White on May 18, 2017 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Merida discusses his childhood in Havana, Cuba and his arrival to the United States. Merida then discusses Cubans in Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1960s and 1970s. He also reflects on starting the Latin Chamber of Commerce with Arturo Cambeiro in the late 1970s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Barry Gunderson conducted by Scott Fiszer on October 18, 2002 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Gunderson reflects upon his 28-year career as a teacher and administrator with Nevada’s Clark County School District (CCSD). He discusses his approach to school administration, his regular responsibilities, and some of his biggest challenges. He offers suggestions for individuals interested in pursuing school administration, and uses his own experiences to give examples of having to make difficult decisions as an administrator.
Archival Collection
LaVerne Ligon was born in 1942 in Washington D.C. Around the age of nine, she started dancing at the Jones-Haywood School of Ballet, which started her career in dance. She took her first job as a professional dancer when she was eighteen with the Capitol Ballet Company. She moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1973. In 1974, she successfully auditioned for a touring cast of Hello, Dolly! After completing that show, Ligon performed in a number of productions in Las Vegas, including Hallelujah Hollywood and Jubilee. She retired from dancing in the early 1980s after sustaining an injury and she opened the Simba Talent Agency, a dance school for at-risk youth. She also worked for Family Services, but is now retired. She continues to work on projects with the Simba Talent Agency. BJ Thomas was born in 1935 in Plain Dealing, Louisiana. He moved to Las Vegas in 1968 after working for the Post Office in San Francisco. He worked a number of jobs for two years before beginning to pursue work as a stage hand. Thomas worked for shows at the Tropicana and Caesars Palace. He is currently retired. Leonard Polk Jr. was born in 1948 in Monroe, Louisiana. He and his mother moved to Las Vegas in 1949 when he was just two months old. His father worked on the Hoover Dam. Polk grew up in West Las Vegas and remembers the movement to integrate the schools in the city. As a young adult, he joined the Marines and served a tour of duty in Vietnam. Polk began to work for shows in Las Vegas after he finished his military career. He worked for the Aladdin Baghdad Theater and for the MGM Grand Hotel. He is currently retired, but remains active with the First African Methodist Episcopal Church.
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