Oral history interview with Gary Porter conducted by Stefani Evans on April 26, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Porter discusses his early life in Oklahoma. He recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1970 as a new accountant, and his employment at the Hughes Corporation. He talks about the growth of Las Vegas, the charter market in Las Vegas during the late 1970s, and joining Hughes Aviation in 1977. Lastly, Porter describes the evolution of the aviation industry, and explains the work Hughes Aviation does to service airplanes.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Richard "Dick" Richards conducted by his son, Rick Richards, on February 21, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Richards describes his own personal history and the history of Las Vegas, Nevada. Most notably, Richards describes his time working as a dealer in casinos owned by the mob and his interactions with individuals involved with organized crime.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Thomas A. Thomas conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on March 02, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Thomas discusses his family background and upbringing in banking. He talks about his father, Edward Parry Thomas, his father's involvement with financing casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1960s, and the formation of the Thomas & Mack Company in 1992. Thomas remembers the company’s first projects in Las Vegas, construction of the Thomas & Mack Center, and developing the Las Vegas Digital Exchange Campus. Later, Thomas remembers his father’s involvement with the development of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and the company's help financing the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV. Lastly, Thomas discusses his partnership with Rob Roy of Switch data centers, and the future of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Nina Lu conducted by Jennifer Sui on November 17, 2021 for the Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Lu recalls her difficult immgration journey from China to Los Angeles, California, and later to Las Vegas, Nevada. She also discusses former jobs, starting her own business, and embracing her unique identity and cultural heritage.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Hank Greenspun conducted by Perry Kaufman in 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Hank Greenspun discusses the newspaper industry, the Las Vegas Sun (local Las Vegas, Nevada newspaper), the Las Vegas Review-Journal, economic expansion in Las Vegas, Nevada, atomic testing, and the Local 226 Culinary Union.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Frances Farnsworth conducted by an unknown collector on May 27, 1982 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Farnsworth discusses her role as a founding member of the Mesquite Club in Las Vegas, Nevada. Farnsworth also discusses how members would go out to the community and recruit women to join the club.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marko Dobro conducted by Elizabeth Nelson Patrick on August 8, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Dobro discusses World War I, Tonopah, Nevada, and Goldfield, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with William Snyder conducted by Claytee D. White on November 21, 2008 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Snyder discusses being an architect who worked for Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects. He also talks about the school named after him, working with the children who attended that school, and designing the McCaw School of Mines for McCaw Elementary School in Henderson, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with William McLeod conducted by Valerie McLeod on March 16, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. McLeod begins by speaking about his career as a contractor, the growth of Las Vegas in the 1960s and the city’s population. Moreover, he speaks about recreational activities such as riding motorcycles and exploring mines around Nevada. McLeod also spends time going over Indian reservations around Nevada and neighboring states, the Lost City in Nevada, boomtowns and ghost towns. Lastly, McLeod talks about the history of water and springs in the state of Nevada, what he would consider to be the Old Ranch and the stagecoaches that passed through Gold Point, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Frank Cope conducted by Marianne Johnson on March 15, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Cope describes his occupation as distribution superintendent at the Las Vegas Valley Water District and meeting his wife who also worked for the water district as a secretary in the engineering department. Cope also mentions multiple organizations and committees that he was a part of.
Archival Collection