Arrangement note: Series IV. Internal: Social

Arrangement note: Series III. Internal: Work

Arrangement note: Series I. Demonstrations, Subseries I.A. Frontier Strike

Arrangement note: Series I. Demonstrations, Subseries I.A. Frontier Strike

Barry W. Becker's father was a land developer and real estate broker in the Los Angeles area. Howard Hughes told him to purchase all the land he could in the West Charleston area of Las Vegas, so his father started Becker Enterprises, Incorporated in southern Nevada, and Barry and his family moved here in 1971. Becker Enterprises developed 2,500 to 3,000 acres in the West Charleston area and built Arizona Charlie's Hotel Casino. Barry came to Las Vegas in his mid-twenties and worked on underground work and other projects for Becker Enterprises. After he married, Barry and his wife Sue moved to the West Charleston area. They lived in the Charleston Heights area and eventually moved to Rancho Bel Air.

Dr. Robert C. Maxson was president of UNLV for ten years, 1984 to 1994. When he arrived, discussions were already under way about developing an engineering school. Certain elements in the community, such as Summa Corporation, were lobbying for such a program here in southern Nevada. Dr. Maxson began receiving printed materials and phone calls about it, and he started putting his fund raising skills to good use. He believes that civic pride in the young university, as well as a sense that an engineering school would be good for business, led many individuals, hotels, and corporations to open their pocketbooks. Locally, Dr. Maxson found generous support from Tom Beam, Nevada Power, the Summa Corporation, and many other businesses and individuals. Since the legislature only meets every two years in northern Nevada, Robert and others made many trips to Carson City that first year to discuss every nuance of the project. He spent considerable time with Senator Bill Raggio, John Marvel, Bill Bilyeu, and other legislators convincing them that Nevada would get its money's worth. He also gives major credit to Las Vegas civic leaders for their influence and the fact that they had rallied behind this cause. Once the funding was approved, Dr. Maxson insisted on and facilitated the accreditation of the program. Faculty members enthusiastically got behind this push and accreditation was achieved in a remarkably short time. The next order of business was funding an honors program for deserving students. Dr. Len Zane was given this project and began recruiting students. Individuals in the private sector were invited to fund academic scholarships, and they responded generously. Dr. Maxson traveled the state attending high school commencements and recruited valedictorians on the strength of offering those students the honors scholarships. Dr. Maxson greatly enjoyed his time as president at UNLV. He feels he was privileged to be part of its growth and expansion, to have worked with enthusiastic, energetic faculty, and to have encouraged the community's desire to get behind the growth of the university.