Commencement program from University of Nevada, Las Vegas Commencement Programs and Graduation Lists (UA-00115).

On March 3, 1980, Frank Fusco interviewed Elissa Miller (born October 29th, 1935 in San Francisco, California) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In this interview, Mrs. Miller talks about her life in Virginia City and Reno, Nevada. She discusses the growth in Reno and the problems that came from that. She also speaks about living life in Virginia City, a much smaller town in Nevada. She talks about the people who live and work there, as well as some of the things the town is known for, such as the International Camel and Ostrich Races that are held annually.

It is February 20th, 1995, the world’s eyes are set on El Estadio Azteca, Mexico’s largest sports stadium. Inside the facility, in front of an estimated 130,000 people, Mexican legend, Julio César Chávez, is defending his WBC super-light weight title against the American, Greg Haugen. In front of his countrymen, Chávez is punishing Haugen, who disrespected him years earlier in Las Vegas. During the 5th round, Haugen is barely able to stand on his feet, as the record breaking crowd calls for him to be knocked out. Chávez continues to land a barrage of punches, until finally the third man in the ring that night decides to step in to put an end to it. The stadium erupts with cheers for El León de Culiacán. The history books remembers this fight as the largest outdoor fight in the history of the sport. Casual boxing fans will always remember Chávez and Haugen battling it out in the heart of Mexico, but a third man stood in the ring that night: Joe Cortez. Cortez was born to Puerto Rican parents in Spanish Harlem, New York City. Boxing was always a part of this Hall of Fame referee’s life. Cortez won multiple Golden Glove tournaments as an amateur boxer and had a successful, but short career as a professional boxer. Outside of boxing, Cortez also found success as military man, deli owner, hotel manager, and director of an ophthalmologist outreach program. Eventually, he would find himself back in the boxing ring, this time as a referee. His career as a referee took Cortez to the top of the boxing world. When he retired in 2012, Cortez officiated 176 World Championship Fights. In 2011, Cortez was inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame alongside, Mike Tyson, Julio César Chávez, Kostya Tszyu, Ignacio Beristain, and Sylvester Stallone.

On March 2, 1977, Danny DiGiacomo interviewed office manager, Maxine James (born September 6th, 1925, in Hayti, Missouri) about her life in Southern Nevada. The two discuss the ease with which people could find jobs in early Las Vegas. The interview provides an overview of James’ occupational history in Las Vegas and concludes with a discussion on the rapid growth of the city in the fifties and sixties.

In this interview, Morris reflects upon his career and the wide range of influential artists he has worked with, as a drummer, musical director and talent manager. Stories include playing with Louis Prima, live and on albums; serving as Elvis? musical director; filling in for Frank Sinatra?s drummer; entertaining Howard Hughes; and playing at President John F. Kennedy?s inauguration, to name a few. He also talks about his agency, attributing its success to the strong relationships he built with casino management.

Interview with Arthur "Art" Marshall by Claytee White on February 11, 2014. In this interview, Marshall

Arthur Marshall was born in 1929 in Cleveland, Ohio. He met his wife, Jayn in 1953, and the couple moved to Las Vegas where she already lived with her family. Art joined his father-in-law in the family's retail clothing business. Art Marshall took over the retail clothing business with his brother-in-law, Herb Rousso, and expanded operations as Marshall-Rousso stores. Art quickly became very active in the Jewish community upon arriving in Las Vegas. He served as president at Temple Beth Sholom, and worked with other Jews in the city, many who owned and managed the hotels at the time, to build a strong Jewish community in Las Vegas. He served as the chairman of Nevada State Bank and spent 12 years on the Nevada Gaming Commission.

On March 8, 1975, John Neal interviews Ruth Hazard (birthdate unknown, 67 years old) in her home about her memory of how Southern Nevada has changed economically. Hazard goes in-depth about her knowledge of municipal politics and her husband’s friendships with a number of Nevadan politicians. Hazard also briefly talks about her fascination with the above-ground atomic tests, speakeasies during Prohibition, and local anxieties about Las Vegas “losing its identity.”