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Thomas, Sonny
Sandy C. Thomas is better known as Sonny. Sonny Thomas was born in Fordyce, Arkansas on Feburary 6, 1940. In 1959, Sonny arrived in Las Vegas looking for the promised employment opportunities. His first job was as a bus boy at El Rancho. Over the course of the next thirty years, he moved from one job to another, each time gaining more responsibility. His last hotel role was as shipping and receiving manager at the MGM. While working at the MGM, Sonny finally secured a part-time second job with Davis Funeral Home.
Person
Gay, James A., III, 1916-1999
Alternate Names
James A. Gay III was born March 6th, 1916 in Fordyce, Arkansas. Arriving in 1946, Gay became the first African-American mortician in Las Vegas. He later worked as Assistant Manager of the Sands Hotel and Casino and Union Plaza while serving as an executive board member of the Culinary Union. Instrumental in the Las Vegas community, Gay worked to improved race relations, addressing social, economic, and civic issues. Gay was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1988.
Person
Jones, Essie Lee
Essie Lee Jones got married to Charles Jones in 1969 in Tallulah, Louisiana. Jones came to Las Vegas in 1969, and held positions at several hotels on the Strip. She went to the Culinary Union hall and procured a job as a maid at the Stardust during graveyard shift, and eventually as a bus girl in the Palm Room. Jones then worked at the Frontier for fourteen years.
Person
Transcript of interview with Ida Bowser by Claytee D. White, August 30, 2007
Date
Archival Collection
Description
Interview with Ida Bowser conducted by Claytee D. White on August 30, 2007. Born in Tallulah, Louisiana, Bowser came to Las Vegas as a child. Her first job after high school was as a teacher's aide. Later, she worked as a maid at the Sahara and Flamingo hotels. Disenchanted with maid's work, Bowser applied to the welfare office for on-the-job training and began working for the UNLV library, where she remained for thirty-seven years. Bowser recalls Ruby Duncan and the civil rights movement, notable individuals and places, and a discrimination lawsuit.
Text
Lisby, Lee Henry
Lee Henry Lisby was born July 01, 1902 in Louisiana. In 1942, Lisby moved from Tallulah, Louisiana to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he found success in owning real estate. He retired as a sawmill worker, truck driver, construction laborer, and hotel porter. His first housing was an old Army hospital tent, and then he built a house. All of his ten children graduated from high school in Las Vegas.
Person
Harvey Allen oral history interview
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interview with Harvey Allen conducted by Claytee D. White on December 12, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview Allen speaks about working for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, working in a segregated casino, and the opening of the first integrated casino in Las Vegas, Nevada: The Moulin Rouge. In addition, he spoke about hosting the "All-Nighters Club Convention", a popular talk show on KDON radio, and teaching classes at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) for 31 years.
Archival Collection
Duncan, Ruby, 1932-
Ruby Duncan was born in Tallulah, Louisiana on June 7, 1932. Her parents passed away when Duncan was three years old and she spent the remainder of her youth living with various relatives in and around Tallulah. Duncan started work at the Ivory Plantation at an early age, only going to school part-time. She quit school to work full-time as a waitress and later a barmaid. Duncan left Tallulah for Las Vegas, Nevada in 1952 to live with her aunt near Henderson, Nevada.
Person
