Richard Van Nutley was born on August 17, 1935, in Yakima, Washington. Richard married Elsie May (née Schockley) on July 26, 1959. Elsie passed away on August 26, 1995, but they had two children during their time together: James and Peggy.

Nutley was enlisted in the United States Army Reserve.

Nutley obtained a master's of systems management degree from the University of Southern California.

Melva Jean O'Neill (née Davis) was born on October 21, 1951, in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Melva married Layton on December 19, 1979. Melva had one child going into the marriage: Amy and Layton had five children going into the marriage: Marilyn, Colleen, Mike, Jenny, and Dennis.

O'Neill was employed as a homemaker but had previously worked as a waitress and motel desk clerk.

Donald R. Owen was born on March 17, 1931, in Trinidad, Colorado. Donald married Dorothy on October 15, 1966, and they had two children: John and Cindy.

Owen was enlisted in the United States Army for 8 years.

Owen was employed as an underground mining inspector for the Nevada Test Site.

Stanley W. Paher is a Nevada historian, author, and publisher. He was born in 1940 in Las Vegas. He was raised in Las Vegas and attended Las Vegas High School in 1954. Throughout his young adulthood, he was interested in mining camps and ghost towns and would visit the ones in the surrounding area. After graduation from high school, he joined the Navy and spent two years in the reserves.

Musician, conductor, and arranger John W. (Johnny) Pate started his career as a self-taught bass player. Born in Illinois on December 5, 1923, Pate characterized his style as "Chicago soul," although he spent the majority of his career playing with jazz musicians. After his service in the AGF Army Band during World War Two, he played with Coleridge Davis' big band from 1947 to 1949.