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Transcript of interview with Doris, Gerald and Marcy Welt by Barbara Tabach, November 30, 2014
Date
2014-11-30
Archival Collection
Description
Interview with Doris, Gerald "Jerry", and Marcy Welt by Barbara Tabach on November 30, 2014. In this interview, the Welts discuss how they came to Las Vegas in the early 1970s from California, and Eli Welt's pawnshop, Stoney's, which he acquired from Doris's father, Jerry Fox. Jerry and Marcy talk about how they met and came to Las Vegas, where Jerry worked for Harry Reid's law firm. They talk about the community that existed in Las Vegas at the time, and their involvement with B'nai B'rith.
Just before the start of the Great Depression, Doris Fox was born in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of fifteen, she met Eli Welt, and the two were married three years later in Alexandria, Louisiana, where Eli was stationed with the United States Army Air Corps. Eventually, Doris and Eli moved to southern California with their three children-Gerald (aka Jerry), Richard (aka Rick) and Susan (aka Sue). In 1971, after all their children were out of the house, Doris and Eli moved to Las Vegas. They followed Doris' father, Jerry "Stoney" Fox, who had moved to the city in the 1940s, and was one of the first entrants into the local pawnshop industry. Like many migrants to the city, Eli became active in the Jewish community, particularly with B'nai Brith and Jewish Family Service Agency. Doris and Eli's eldest son, Jerry, and wife, Marcy, moved to Las Vegas in 1972 with their two small children. Tiffany and Cory. Jerry and Marcy had met through a Jewish youth group as teenagers in Anaheim, California. Having just finished law school, Jerry found that legal career opportunities were plentiful in the growing city. His first job was as a law clerk with Harry Reid's law office, Beckley, DeLanoy, Jemison and Reid, later becoming an associate attorney. He assisted Reid as lieutenant governor and on his early political campaigns. Jerry left Beckley, DeLanoy, Jemison and Reid to work for Oscar Goodman's firm-Goodman, Snyder and Gang-focusing on civil litigation. In 1975, Jerry opened his own practice, continuing to specialize in civil ligation, and served as general counsel to Las Vegas Clark County Library District. Since their arrival, Marcy and Jerry have been dedicated to community service, particularly within the Jewish community. Both were active in youth programs at Temple Beth Sholom, Jerry even serving as youth commissioner and later, education director. Marcy worked with Edythe Katz at the Holocaust Resource Center and assisted with producing a film and training program for educators. Both are avid supporters of youth travel to Israel and work hard to ensure these opportunities continue to be available for those interested.
Text
Film transparency of Overton Beach at Lake Mead, Nevada, 1947
Date
1947
Archival Collection
Description
Several boats are moored close to shore, and a few tents have been pitched close to the water's edge. Three small buildings are visible. Overton Beach is located on the northern end of the Overton Arm, a long extension of the lake that follows the former channel of the Virgin River. In 1939, shortly after Lake Mead was impounded, Overton Beach was one of only three sites on the reservoir to have facilities for the public. Overton Beach offered access to a public launch ramp, restrooms, fish cleaning station and ranger station. A concessioner operated a RV park, store, fuel station, dry boat storage, long-term trailer village, and a marina with 125 slips. In the spring of 2007, the marina facilities were divided into two smaller sections and moved to other concessioner operations on the lake at Temple Bar and Callville Bay. Shortly after that, the store was boarded up and the trailer village was dismantled. What remained are the boat launch and the ranger station. On Sunday, April 25, 2010, the National Park Service locked the gate leading to Overton Beach at its intersection with Northshore Road, although the area will still be open to visitors who choose to enter on foot or by boat. Only vehicle access is restricted, making the area in effect a backcountry site. The move was considered temporary, but it could prove permanent depending on how long it takes Lake Mead to recover from over a decade of drought on the overdrawn Colorado River. The Overton Beach water treatment facility was also shut down on April 25, 2010. Without water and sewage services, the park wasn't able to operate restrooms, the fish cleaning station or RV pump-out stations. These services are now available at Echo Bay, which is located ten miles south of Overton Beach.
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