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Toston, Gertrude
Gertrude Toston was born May 09, 1947 in Galveston, Texas, and grew up in Austin, Texas. Her parents moved to Seattle, Washington, to provide more opportunities for their children but ended up separating. Toston’s mother brought the children to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1960 to have the support of her sister while she divorced. Her sister's husband, Reverend Coleman, was the pastor of Second Baptist Church, and the family became very involved in church activities.
Person
Troutman, Porter
Porter Troutman was born and raised in Newellton, a small farming community in Louisiana. He went to school to Ruth Wood Elementary School and graduated from a high school in St. Joseph, Louisiana. He then attended Southern University from 1961 to 1965 and earned his Bachelor's Degree. His father held a multitude of jobs to support the family and was highly involved in the Civil Rights movement.
Person
Tryon, John G.
John G. Tryon was born December 18, 1920 and grew up in Washington, D.C., the oldest of three sons. His father worked with the National Bituminous Coal Commission during the Depression and his mother was editor of the American Association of University Women's Publications.
Person
Underhill, Byron (Byron DeForrest)
Byron Underhill was born February 02, 1919 and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1927. Underhill and his father owned and operated the first Coca Cola Bottling Company in Clark County, Nevada. Underhill had three children, born between 1948 and 1955.
Person
Washington, Isadore
Isadore Washington was born in Tallulah, Louisiana, the son of Isadore Washington, Sr., and Destelle Washington. His father came out to Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1930s to work on Hoover Dam, and the family followed in 1942 when Isadore was eight years old. His mother worked at the El Rancho and Last Frontier Hotels, the Shaw Apartments and Harrison boarding house on the Westside where black entertainers were expected to stay. Washington recalls playing with Wayne Newton when they were children and life on the Westside where he attended the Westside School.
Person
Washington, Marcia, 1953-
Marcia L. Washington was born in Tallulah, Louisiana on February 8th, 1953. She moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1966, she was 13 and had always attended black only schools. In Las Vegas, she would experience her first school integration and bussing. Marcia Washington and Dave Washington got married on June 10, 1972, and eventually had four children, April, Vernon, Angel and Amber. In 2000, her passions lead her to become the first African American on the State Board of Education, where she was an active voice for eight years.
Person
Whaley, Eva Poole
Eva Poole Whaley was born on November 22, 1942 in Fordyce, Arkansas. She moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in the early 1960s. She worked in the Clark County School District. She and her husband were restaurant owners before Eva worked at Nevada Power, and then for the telephone company.
Person
Whaley, Nathaniel, 1934-
Nathaniel Whaley was born on July 01, 1934 in Tallulah, Louisiana. He moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1943. He married his wife Eva, in 1984. Before leaving high school to provide for his new wife and son, Nathaniel had a successful high school career as an accomplished athlete and Eagle Scout in the first black Boy Scout troop in the area. Nathaniel would go on to have a fruitful career as a mason and contractor, literally helping build the city of Las Vegas. His jobs included the Dunes, the Sands, Union Plaza and the Maxim Hotel.
Person
Whitley, June F.
June F. Whitley was born in San Angelo, Texas and raised in Pittsburg, California. She met Lewis Whitley at the First Baptist Church in Pittsburg. They were married in 1955, and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1958. June found work as a maid for the Sahara Hotel before being hired at the Centel Telephone Company as an operator. In 1978, June became involved in local politics sought a seat on the Board of Regents for Clark County Community College, and eventually became the first woman Chairperson of the board.
Person
War, Kathy
Kathy War was born February 05, 1945 and raised in Helena, Montana. She and her husband, Tom married in 1968 while the status of the job market was uncertain. After a short time in Seattle, Washington, they came to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1970. War applied for a job with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' library. For the next four and a half years, she worked in the Curriculum Materials Library. She also worked in the Inter-Library loan department and eventually moved to Special Collections.
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