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Christian Giovanni oral history interview: transcript

Date

2022-05-17

Archival Collection

Christian Giovanni oral history interview

Description

Oral history interview with Christian Giovanni conducted by Cecilia Winchell, Jerwin Tiu, and Stefani Evans on May 17, 2022 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Giovanni describes her early life being born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. She discusses her mother, Oywan, who first worked for the casinos before turning her focus to community building. Throughout Oywan's life, she did everything from start the first temple in the city to the first Thai newspaper, Las Vegas News. Giovanni mentions having what she considers a normal childhood, especially because of her more Western appearance, and did not embrace her AAPI identity until much later in life after she started helping her mother with different organizations. Currently, Giovanni is involved in many organizations, from the AAPI County Commission to the Thai Culture Foundation.

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Transcript of interview with Blair Hale, by Emily Powers, June 16, 2006

Date

2008-06-16

Archival Collection

Dr. Blair Hale oral history interview

Description

Dr. Blair Hale has been practicing dentistry in Las Vegas for over thirty years. He was born in Idaho in 1949, the third of four children born to Zendal McKay and Lenny Raymond Hale. His education includes semesters at BYU, El Camino City College, and a dental degree from Washington University. Dr. Hale recounts his experiences as an undergraduate at Washington University in Missouri, living in a dorm situation and signing for government loans. He also examines his early days in Las Vegas and the ease with which he obtained bank loans to start his business back in 1976. At that time there were relatively few dentists practicing in Las Vegas, and when he was the dentist society president in 1985, he knew most dentists by name. Blair explains his work with the Academy of LDS Dentists, which sends groups of dentists to Guatemala, Peru, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic to run week-long free clinics. The clinics not only treat the dental problems of the populace, but also serve as instructional seminars for local practitioners. In addition to running a practice and doing charitable work outside the country, Dr. Hale also teaches at UNLV's dental clinic one day per week. He describes the changes in technology, technique, and materials over the years, and the quality education future dentists receive at UNLV. He also delineates the differences dental work can make in a patient's life, not just aesthetically but emotionally and physically as well. Dr. Hale comments on the dynamics behind the large influx of dentists in the 90s, the future of health care in Las Vegas, and the impact of third-party carriers in the dental profession. He believes that dentistry is a wonderful profession and that students can receive an excellent education at any good dental school in the United States. His sons are contemplating following him into this field.

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Transcript of interview with Dr. Percy Poon by Lisa Gioia-Acres, February 5, 2007

Date

2007-02-05

Archival Collection

Dr. Percy Poon oral history interview

Description

Dr. Percy Poon was born in Hong Kong in 1958, the oldest of four children. He attended Catholic school through junior high and high school, but decided to work after high school instead of going on to college. After working in banking and police forensics for a couple of years, he decided to continue his education. Percy studied economics at a university in Hong Kong, graduated at age 25, and then applied to Southwest Texas State for an MBA. Having earned his degree after only a year and a half, he applied and was accepted to a PhD program at Louisiana State. He interviewed for several jobs as he was approaching graduation, but decided to follow one of his professors, Mel Jameson, to UNLV. In August of 1989, Dr. Poon moved to Las Vegas to take on a visiting professorship, and the next year was promoted to tenure-track assistant professorship. In 1994, he met and married his wife, and they make their home in the southwest valley. Percy recalls the different styles and contributions of university presidents Robert Maxson and Carol Harter. His memories of first arriving in Las Vegas include the marvel of the volcano at the new Mirage Hotel, the oppressive heat, and the smaller size of the city. Currently, Dr. Percy is dean of the College of Business and Finance, and feels that the program is working towards competitiveness with other well-established university programs, such as UCLA or Arizona State. He feels that progress has been made in pushing for academic exams, but that increased funding will create better programs and opportunities. Dr. Poon became a U.S. citizen in 1998, and makes occasional visits to his family still living in Hong Kong. He and his wife socialize occasionally with colleagues and church acquaintances, and also entertain family members when they visit from Hong Kong.

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