Born in 1939, Sharon Maurer-Schwartz’s life experiences have traversed a groundbreaking era: she’s a female, Jewish and a married to a Protestant lesbian. This oral history reveals what it has been like for her as she explored her Judaism and recognized her personal identity. Her Judaic foundation began in the Reconstructionist movement in Indianapolis, Indiana. She has never wavered from her religious identity, though she has belonged to various types of synagogues. She and Ande (Edna) Rice, who also participates in this interview, were legally married in California in 2008, but have been together since the 1980s. They raised Sharon’s daughter Julie, pursued careers and moved to Las Vegas in 1999. Ande is a Protestant and the topic of blended religious couples is discussed. Sharon is devoted to her life coaching business – Growth Unlimited – and to helping others.

The memories and recollections of Alice Thiriot Ballard Waite provide a most interesting look at both at the Junior League of Las Vegas in the 1970s and the early days of Las Vegas. Alice recalls her childhood and young adult years after she arrived in Las Vegas at the age of five, giving the reader a rare picture of Las Vegas in the 1950s and 1960s. She was most active in the volunteer community of Las Vegas and served as Junior League President in 1964-5. Her reminiscences about the events and activities during the years while she was a Junior League member are an invaluable insight into its history. The exhibits she is sharing are an important documentation of those years after the Service League became the Junior League. She herself was a forerunner of today's Active members because she was a single, working mother while serving as the first "professional" President of the League.

Architect Paul Senzaki, and artist-illustrator Charlie White III recall their experiences of working in Las Vegas: Paul on Treasure Island, The Palms, Fremont Street Experience, and World Market Center and Charlie on Treasure Island and its successor, TI; New York New York. Architectural historian Alan Hess, who is an expert on Las Vegas architecture, offers historical context and asks pertinent questions. While this interview touches on several iconic Las Vegas buildings, the conversation mostly details why and how Steve Wynn's Treasure Island involved the labors of artists, illustrators, art directors, and designers of stage and screen as well as the those of architects, contractors, planners, and subcontractors.

Interviewed by Monsserath Hernandez, Laurents Bañuelos-Benitez, and Claytee White. Dr. Acherman has been practicing in Southern Nevada for nearly 20 years and continues to care for the community at the Children's Heart Center of Nevada in Las Vegas. Born and raised in the small town of Palmira, Colombia with his two sisters and parents. His father is from Romania and immigrated to Ecuador while escaping from Nazi occupied Europe during World War II. Dr. Acherman eventually moved to Cali, Colombia in order to attend medical school. knowing that he wanted to specialize in cardiology and being unable to do cardiology in Colombia he immigrated to the U.S. and specialized in pediatrics at USC. After practicing for two years in Toronto, he was contacted by Dr. Evans in 2001 with an offer to work at his practice in Southern Nevada where he was able to successfully perform the first balloon dilation in the state of Nevada.

Ron Textor grew up in Kirksvile, MO shortly after moved to Flint. MI; father was a doctor and mother a school teacher; started piano lessons at 5 and trombone at 8; attended classes at the Stan Kenton clinics at Michigan State University; National Stage Band Camp at Cleveland at the Western Reserve University; started own band at age 14 in Flint, MI; graduated high school in 1965; went to Central Michigan University graduated in 1969 with a bachelor's in music; 1972 released from the army and joined the Glenn Miller Orchestra under Buddy DeFranco; trumpet player Tom Snelson — Phantom of the Opera; The Airmen of Note; Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra; recording at RCA Victor in Tokyo; 50 weeks a year of one-nighters; St Regis Roof in New York City; book by George Simon on Glenn Miller; Medina Ballroom; traveling by bus; rehearsal with Frank Sinatra; master's degree from Central Michigan; taught college at Michigan, Central, and Alma College; Mott Community College; moved to Wisconsin and taught at Mount Scenario College in the late 70 s; General Motors; Genesee County Fine Arts Council; CETA; Detroit Montreux Jazz Festival; 1981 Montreux Switzerland Jazz Festival; North Sea Jazz Festival at the Hague in Holland; move to Las Vegas 1981.

Patricia and Herman van Betten met in Pittsburg through their volunteer work on the John F. Kennedy Campaign. After their Connecticut wedding and Herman's studies at the University of Texas and the University of Southern California, they and three small children moved to Las Vegas. Their fourth child, a native Las Vegan, was born in 1968. In 1967, Herman acquired a position at the Nevada Southern University, which is now the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Beginning in the 1970's the couple worked diligently to make the Las Vegas community a great place to live. They participated in The League of Women Voters, The Consumer League, the Welfare Rights Movement, and the Community of a Hundred. Patricia served as the President of the Consumer League and Herman was elected to the local school board. They were jointly appointed by the ACLU as Civil Librarians of the Year, 1990-1991. Currently retired, they engage in civic, environmental, and historical activism in the village of

On March 16, 1978, Valerie McLeod interviewed her father William Lee McLeod (b. January 31st, 1937 in Los Angeles, California) about his life in Las Vegas, Nevada. McLeod begins by speaking about his career as a contractor, the growth of Las Vegas 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.