Oral history interview with Francisco V. Aguilar conducted by Monserrath Hernández on April 19, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Aguilar discusses his early life in Tucson, Arizona. He recalls his educational experience, attending the University of Arizona, and his initial interests in law. Aguilar talks about lobbying the Arizona legislature for a second student regent on the Board of Regents, attending law school, and serving on the Catholic Charities Board, Opportunity 180 Board, and the Nevada Athletic Commission. He describes being nominated for the Bosch Fellowship, and being a founding chairman of the Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory High School in North Las Vegas, Nevada. Later, Aguilar talks about the importance of prioritizing education in local communities, and his vision for Cristo Rey. Lastly, he shares his thoughts about the Latinx community in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dr. Kevin L. Wright conducted by Claytee D. White on July 28, 2021 for African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project.
Dr. Kevin Wright discusses his childhood in Las Vegas and the influential women who have mentored him throughout his life. He talks of his education at the Gilbert Magnet School for Communications & Creative Arts in Las Vegas, his current professional pursuits as a part-time instructor in the College of Education, and his community involvement as a member of both Alpha Phi Omega and the National Service fraternities. Dr. Wright also shares his employment history within University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he previously worked in departments related to residential life, student activities, TRIO Training Institute programs (Talent Search, Upward Bound, and Student Support Service), student affairs, student diversity, and leadership.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Wendell Phillips Williams conducted by Claytee D. White on October 4, 2021 for African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project.
Wendell Phillips Williams discusses his childhood and education in Louisiana before moving to Las Vegas in 1977. Williams talks of his time teaching for the Clark County School District (CCSD), his radio program "Straight Talk" on KCEP's Power 88.1 radio station, the Crystal Apple Award he received as an educator from CCSD, and how he started the now-longest standing Martin Luther King Jr. parade in the United States. Williams shares his passion for Black history and education as well as the bills he championed as a Nevada State Assemblyman from 1987-2001. He also discusses the historical details of how Madison Elementary School was rebuilt and became the Wendell Phillips Williams Elementary School in 2002.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tom Hawley conducted by Claytee D. White and Su Kim Chung on September 21, 2021 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
Tom Hawley was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico, but found home in Las Vegas, Nevada where his father worked as a professional musician. A local historian and TV reporter from a helicopter, Hawley reported the traffic and contributed local stories of great interest. After radio and TV jobs in the mid-1980s, Tom began reporting in 1988 and joined the News 3 team in 1995. Outside of the workplace, he enjoyed classical music and hiking. He played with the Henderson Symphony where his instrument was the string bass. Hiking has taken him to the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and to the apex of Mount Charleston. Three weeks after the conclusion of this interview, Tom Hawley passed away after his battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 60 years old.
Subjects discussed include: Star Policy; Production Shows; KUNV; Bob Stoldal; Henderson Symphony.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Emmy Kasten conducted by Kristel Peralta, Ayrton Yamaguchi, and Stefani Evans on March 17, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Emmy Kasten discusses her Filipino heritage, her family, and her previous employment working in various industries including acting and broadcasting, marketing, philanthropy, writing, and event production. Emmy shares how she and her husband and children moved to Las Vegas in 2016 after her parents moved to the city a decade earlier, and she discusses her current professional pursuits as a board member of the Miss Asian North America Organization (MANAO) and the Las Vegas Fashion Council.
Subjects discussed include: University of California, Irvine (UCI); KTLA Morning News; Red Bull Music Academy; Rock Star Gaming; Filipino foods; Vegas Magazine; and anti-Asian discrimination.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mach and Arlene Manuel conducted by Kristel Peralta and Stefani Evans on June 28, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Mach and Arlene Manuel share the story of their overseas courtship and how they came to be together in the United States. Arlene was raised in the Philippines while Mach was born and raised in San Diego, California. Mach describes his visit to the Philippines as an adult when he began to connect more to his Filipino heritage. The couple shares how they dated for 13 years before Arlene moved to San Diego, and how the Manuel family came to live in Las Vegas in 2017 to pursue Arlene's nursing career. Arlene and Mach talk about cultural differences and discrimination, emigration and diversity, religion and identity, and Filipino food, among other topics.
Subjects discussed include: Manila, Philippines; discrimination of class; and anti-Asian hate.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Maila Aganon conducted by Kristel Peralta, Cecilia Winchell, and Stefani Evans on June 10, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Maila Aganon discusses her childhood, family upbringing, and immigration to the United States from the Philippines when she was a college student. She shares how her parents moved to Las Vegas first and Maila followed a decade later, investing in real estate and eventually taking up permanent residence. Maila talks about her employment history with Allstate Insurance, Bank of America, AAA, Caesars Entertainment, and finally Aon as a Senior Vice President. She also shares her thoughts on the growth of Las Vegas and the growth of the Asian community and cultural influence within the city.
Subjects discussed include: anti-Asian violence; Filipino grocery stores; Filipino foods; remote work.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Robert List conducted by Claytee D. White on December 10, 2018, January 11, 2019, May 3, 2019, May 7, 2019, and June 12, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Robert List, former Governor of Nevada and Nevada Attorney General, recounts his early life and his summers spent on a family ranch in Northern Nevada. List details moving to Carson City in 1951, eventually practicing law, and recounts various experiences leading up to his political career. He elaborates on the events that happened during and after his term, including his involvement in an operation to clear the Mob out of many Las Vegas, Nevada hotels, such as the Tropicana, the Stardust, and the Riviera. List explains how his term helped Las Vegas move away from the influence of organized crime.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Michelle DiTondo conducted by Vanessa Concepcion on November 9, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Michelle talks about her parents' experiences living in Osaka, Japan during the war, and the circumstances of her move as a child to Nellis Air Force base in 1972. She discusses living in North Las Vegas and her experiences being part of an air force family. Michelle shares stories of her life on the base and her interactions with other air force families. She also talks about her Japanese culture, foods she has cooked with her mother and brother, celebrating cultural events in light of the pandemic, and her career history including her most recent role working at MGM Resorts International.
Subjects discussed include: Air Force Base; NCO Club; AAPI Scholarship Fund; Taiko Drums.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Hernando Amaya conducted by Laurents Banuelos-Benitez, Marcela Rodriguez-Campo, and Barbara Tabach on October 18, 2018 and December 3, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Hernando Amaya talks about his childhood and education in Bogota, Colombia. He discusses his start in journalism as a young man and working for El Espectador, the Colombian national newspaper. He discusses his experiences reporting on the narco-terrorism occurring in Medellin, Colombia and how this eventually led to his immigration to the United States. Amaya moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2001 and continued his career in journalism by working for local Spanish speaking papers and websites. He relates his civic involvement in the Las Vegas area, his work as the president of the Colombian Association of Las Vegas, and various other civic engagements. As a journalist, he asserts the importance of knowing one's culture, storytelling, learning history, and being active in the community.
Archival Collection