Oral history interview with Vera Vann-Wilson conducted by Pat van Betten on September 24, 2006 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Vann-Wilson discusses her early life and moving to Blue Diamond, Nevada in 1980. She remembers her career as a musician, the Blue Diamond village during the early 1980s, and riding horses. Vann-Wilson talks about straw-bale and adobe construction, becoming a teacher for the Clark County School District, and preserving historic areas in Blue Diamond.
Oral history interview with Alan Bowman conducted by Erik Peluso on October 23, 2008 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Bowman reflects upon his roughly 30-year career as a teacher and administrator with the Clark County School District (CCSD) from the 1970s to the 2000s. He discusses his decision to pursue school administration, and challenges that he frequently faced. He also discusses the relationship that school administrators foster with the Board of Education, and the importance of administrators staying current in local affairs that affect the community and school policies.
On December 30, 2015, a few months after her 100th birthday celebration, Gertrude Rudiak, with the help of her son Richard Rudiak and granddaughter Dani Ramage, reminisced about living in Las Vegas since 1946, nearly eighty years. They explore the ancestral roots of Gertrude (n?e Rightman) and of her deceased husband George Rudiak. Their courtship and marriage at the brink of World War II and George?s enlistment in the US Army Corps is what brought the couple to Las Vegas and the gunnery school which is now Nellis Air Force Base. After his tour of duty, George settled into a law practice where he specialized in quickie-divorces, but also carved out a reputation supporting civil rights and working for legislation to eliminate working and living discrimination of blacks in Nevada. Gertrude was an active member of Las Vegas. She played the pipe organ, hosted large Seders at Passover and managed the Rudiak household that grew to include five children. Over her long life, Gertrude embraced many positions on community boards, including being Temple Beth Sholom?s first female board member. She was also a teacher in both secular and Jewish education. Her efforts have been recognized by the Jewish National Fund, the United Jewish Appeal, and the Anti-Defamation League. Additionally, Mayor Carolyn Goodman presented Gertrude with the distinguished honor of a key to the city of Las Vegas in 2014. The city declared August 2, Gertrude's birthday, Gertrude Rudiak Day in recognition of her long-standing commitment to Las Vegas.