Oral history interview with Rosenda Gomez conducted by Stefani Evans on July 24, 2024 for Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Gomez describes her childhood and youth in General Luna, Surigao del Norte, Philippines. She shares about her family's financial struggles, becoming pen pals and eventually marrying an older American man, moving to Texas, and having a daughter. Desparate to leave an abusive marriage, she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1993 and worked at the El Cortez making change. After working in a number of casinos, including Imperial Palace, Stratosphere, and Sunset Station, she returned to El Cortez in 1998. Gomez describes how she later became more involved in the Culinary Workers Union (Local 226). In this interview, Gomez describes the physical work of cocktail service; the duties of shop steward and the benefits of Union membership. She recalls San Tomas celebrations in her town and annual Philippines Independence Day celebrations at home; her favorite Filipino foods, and Spring Mountain Road as it was when she arrived in 1993. She also recalls anecdotes of Jackie Gaughan, owner of the El Cortez. Digital audio available; no transcript available.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alan Stock conducted by Barbara Tabach on December 27, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Alan Stock discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1999 for his job as a radio talk show host for KXNT. Stock describes the broadcast that covered the October 1, 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting from 11 PM on that night until 9 AM the next morning. He talks about some of the calls the station received from various members of the community, including survivors of the shooting, families of those at the event, people on lockdown in the nearby hotels, doctors, and general listeners. Stock describes some of the topics discussed on the broadcast, such as what was currently happening on the Las Vegas Strip, stories of the aftermath, and the support needed from the general public. Other topics include gun control and conspiracy theories. He discusses the impact this and other shootings would have on public affairs, including tighter security in daily living and public gatherings. He compares security in the United States to security in Israel and other countries, focusing on the idea of unconcealed guns worn in public. Throughout this interview, Alan Stock explains that the radio station's goal was to provide accurate information to the public during the aftermath of the October 1, 2017 mass shooting.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Victor Wei conducted by Cecilia Winchell, Jerwin Tiu, and Stefani Evans on May 23, 2022 and June 06, 2022 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In the first interview, Wei recalls his early childhood, moving around China, and being part of a large family. Wei's life took a sudden turn when he moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, and then to California where he had a difficult time navigating life as a Chinese individual. Wei and his family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he continued his business consulting work and partnered with UNLV President Marta Meana on the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine. In the second interview, Wei discusses the importance of one's own narrative, and talks about how he perceives his race, community help, and the greater world. Wei also touches on how discrimination existed before the COVID-19 pandemic and how there must be a balance between retaining one's heritage and assimilation. Lastly, Wei discusses his spirituality, war, and human nature.
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Oral history interview with Francie Summers conducted by Stacia Luigi on October 14, 2009 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Summers reflects upon her 35-year career as a teacher and principal with Nevada’s Clark County School District (CCSD). She describes her experience teaching at different private and public schools, how she later became a principal, and how her philosophy of education changed throughout her career. She also provides her opinion on contemporary topics such as standardized testing, student ethics, No Child Left Behind, and teacher grievances.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jocelyn L. Oats conducted by Rebecca Snetselaar on April 29, 2016 for the Folklife Program of the Nevada Arts Council and the Oral History Research Center at UNLV Libraries. Oats begins the interview by talking about her childhood and family. She explains what she was allowed to have in terms of media and music, what gospel music means to her, and which members of her family are singers. Oats talks about religion, traditions in church, and what it means to sing in church. Lastly, Oats tells stories of her life and where to find gospel music in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dr. Roberta Holton conducted by Wendy Park on November 20, 2006 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Holton reflects upon her 28-year career as a teacher and administrator with the Clark County School District. She discusses challenges that she faced in obtaining a teaching position, and some of her biggest challenges that she faced after being hired as a teacher and eventually principal. She also describes challenges that she faced in opening schools within the school district, and offers suggestions on how to be an effective principal and school administrator.
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Oral history interview with Fredric “Rick” Watson conducted by Mark Romonoski on April 19, 2001 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Watson reflects upon his more than 30-year career with Nevada’s Clark County School District as a teacher and administrator from 1964 to 2000. He describes the process by which he became an elementary school principal, and discusses his personal approach to education. He describes challenges that he faced at different elementary schools, discusses political challenges within the school district, and comments on having a school named after him.
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Oral history interview with Jerri Mausbach conducted by Jim Cox on October 02, 2007 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Mausbach reflects upon his experience as a teacher and administrator with Nevada’s Clark County School District (CCSD). He describes the process by which he became a teacher and eventually administrator, his experiences working with special education, and elements of his training that he believes were most useful for his career. He also discusses his approach to school administration and administrative issues that he has dealt with as the Director of Leadership Development.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with David Yancy conducted by Claytee D. White on September 19, 2022 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: A Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Yancy recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada with his parents in 1963, living on the Westside, and many of the businesses within the area's commerce and entertainment corridor. He attended Rancho High School, and went to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). After graduation, Yancy worked in insurance and then became the auditor for the State of Arkansas. In 1976, he returned to Las Vegas and worked thirty-one years for the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), and he recalls laying out the grids and designing the bus routes for Las Vegas.
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Oral history interview with Barbara Raben conducted by Barbara Tabach on February 24, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview Raben discusses her involvement with Hadassah, a women's Jewish organization, in Southern Nevada, and the various groups within that organization. She also talks about her family, her relationship to Judaism, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1991. Raben discusses the business she built in Los Angeles, California and Las Vegas, Nevada called the Candy Factory. She then talks about the formation of Midbar Kodesh Temple with other families from Temple Beth Sholom.
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