Oral history interview with Patrick Egger conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on March 20, 2018 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Egger discusses his early life in Baltimore, Maryland and arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1968. He recalls becoming an electrician for the United States Air Force, being stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, and his initial interest in general appraisal. Egger describes his work in valuation, consulting, and urban real estate studies. Egger talks about his involvement with the Geographic Information System (GIS), Dual Independent Mapping Encoding (DIME), and the Clark County Regional Planning Council. Lastly, Egger discusses his employment with Nevada Savings & Loan (now PriMerit Federal Savings Bank), and the concept of time-value of money (TVM).
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Fluff LeCoque conducted by Joyce Marshall on May 05, 1997 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. LeCoque discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada’s entertainment industry. LeCoque recalls her dance experience in Las Vegas including work at the Thunderbird Hotel and Casino, and performing as a principal dancer for Arden-Fletcher Productions at the Desert Inn. LeCoque retired from dancing in 1970 but recalls being lured out of retirement by Donn Arden to become company manager of Jubilee at the new MGM Grand Hotel (later renamed Bally's). Finally, she talks about the economic, social, and political changes that occurred in Las Vegas after World War II.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Oran Gragson conducted by Perry Kaufman on December 25, 1972 for the UNLV Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Gragson discusses his employment at Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) and Basic Magnesium Plant, and eventually opening his own business in 1967. He then describes changes in Las Vegas, Nevada and recalls his involvement with politics. Gragson then discusses his time as the mayor of Las Vegas and explains the challenges he faced as mayor. Lastly, Gragson describes the difference between county government and city government.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Earl Preston conducted by Melanie Viola on February 13, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Preston discusses his life experiences in Las Vegas, Nevada. He talks about working for the Union Pacific Railroad Company, ownership of Frontier Cable Company, and his musical activities, including his experience as a member of the Helldorado Hillbilly Band. He also talks about his religious background.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Catherine Scherwenka conducted by Claytee D. White on February 28, 2020 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Scherwenka recalls growing up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and later living in New York City. Scherwenka discusses travelling to India, and how her life changed after that trip. She talks about becoming a oneness meditator, her business, "Interviews Initiative", and coming to Las Vegas in the aftermath of 1 October to perform trauma meditation for first responders.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Paul Norton conducted by Sergio Pellegrino on April 3, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project.
In this interview, Paul Norton discusses his life in Henderson, Nevada and Las Vegas, Nevada from 1952 onward. He shares details of his work at Basic Magnesium Inc. (BMI) and at mills around the Valley. Norton talks about his opposition of the MX missile, in contrast to his opinions about atomic testing in Nevada. He also discusses the businesses that operated from 1950 to 1980, how the Las Vegas Strip was constructed, details of Fremont Street and the I-15 freeway, and flooding that was particularly destructive in Henderson.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tom Ehlen conducted by Lisa Gioia-Acres on January 10, 2008 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. Ehlen recalls his career as a professional trumpet player including playing with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Frank Sinatra, Burt Bacharach, and others. He also discusses playing in the bands of various casinos on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dinah Calhoon conducted by Margaret Neel on October 27, 1971 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Calhoon first discusses the various schools that she attended and the recreational activities and social clubs in which she belonged. Calhoon then discusses the different occupations she has had and the various parts of town in which she and her family lived. The interview later includes Calhoon’s thoughts on how she believes Southern Nevada should develop socially and recreationally, and it concludes with her recounting some of her earliest memories of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Frank Watts conducted by Franklin Conn on April 01, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Watts discusses his personal history and Las Vegas, Nevada history. Watts describes working at the El Rancho Hotel and Casino as a comptroller and the development of other casinos in Las Vegas. Watts goes on to describe the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he was a professor during the 1960s and 1970s. He also talks about working at the Riviera, organized crime in Las Vegas, and the growth of the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with G.W. McMillin conducted by Dan Morris on March 10, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. McMillin discusses arriving to Southern Nevada in 1924 and recalls Las Vegas, Nevada as a small town. McMillan begins by speaking about how he ended up in Nevada, his time in Ely, Nevada working for the sheriff and state highway patrol, and his memory of Carol Lombard’s plane crash. McMillan speaks primarily about his time working in politics having worked for two different governors and their administrations. Moreover, he talks about mining and its decline in the state, outdoor recreation and his memories of the atomic tests in Nevada. McMillan ends by speaking about the social changes he has seen, the entertainment of earlier days and the need for feeding range for livestock in Nevada.
Archival Collection