Oral history interview with Fernando Romero conducted by Laurents Bañuelos-Benitez on October 2, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Barbara Tabach also participates in the questioning. Fernando Romero was born in El Paso, Texas in a musical home. His father and brother were avid music players, and his brother left El Paso to play in orchestra in Las Vegas. Despite not being as passionate about music as the rest of his family, music was Romero's ticket to higher education. Romero attended University of Nevada South before it was renamed University of Nevada Las Vegas. Romero has gone on to be deeply involved in the Las Vegas community. He is the current president of Hispanics in Politics. Subjects discussed in this interview include: Hispanics in Politics, Nevada Association of Latin Americans, and education.

Among the stories of those who came to Las Vegas in the 1960s to work at the Nevada Test Site is that of Leslie Dunn and his wife Joan. Leslie had been hired by the U.S. Public Health Service to monitor radiation from the explosions. He has tales flying into craters that make you wide-eyed. This assignment would last until his “retirement” in 1983 – one can’t really describe this couple as retired. During these early years, while Les pursued his scientist career, Joan’s chief focus was on raising their three children, Bruce Dunn, Loryn Dunn Arkow, and Sharon Dunn Levin. She also completed her education in accounting at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She was involved with Equal Right Amendment efforts and League of Women Voters. The couple were only in their forties when Les left the PHS. As he looked forward to new opportunities, he felt compelled to pursue his longtime dream to become a builder, something he had dabbled at as a youngster with his father, Jack Dunn. Together, he an

Interviewed by Nathalie Martinez. Laurents Bañuelos-Benitez also participates in the questioning. Luis F. Valera serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs at UNLV. His heritage is from Venezuela and Cuba. He has served as the Chairman of the Latin Chamber of Commerce and has been an active member of the Latino community since his pursuing his undergraduate degree at UNLV in Political Science and his Juris Doctorate degree from the William S. Boyd School of Law. His various achievements in the community and nation led him to become recognized and awarded the Arturo Cambeiro Hispanic of the Year Award in 2011.

From the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas; OH-00944. On April 4, 1976, Gordon Brusso interviewed Floyd L. Jenne (born 1915). The interview discussed Boulder City McGill, as well as Nevada history.

On March 3, 1980, Wanda Cortés interviewed University of Nevada, Las Vegas counselor, Ann K. Johnson (born August 28th, 1954 in Garland, Arkansas) about her life in Southern Nevada. The two discuss Johnson’s educational and occupational history. The interview concludes with a discussion on the population’s rapid growth during the seventies.

On February 21, 1980, George Baker interviewed Frank H. Johnson (born July 27th , 1929 in El Paso, Texas) about his occupational history in Southern Nevada. The two discuss Johnson’s career as a journalist for the Nevada State Journal and how he transitioned into his position as a government official. Johnson then recalls problems that arose while he was chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission. The interview concludes with Johnson speculating about the impact of industrial growth on the environment.

On October 24, 1974, collector James M. Greene interviewed civil engineer, Robert Kesterson (born on August 12th, 1920 in Key West, Florida) in his home in Henderson, Nevada. Mrs. Kesterson is also present during the interview. This interview offers an overview on life in Boulder City, Las Vegas, and Henderson, Nevada. The interview ends with a discussion on land development.