Oral history interview with Michael Maxwell conducted by Claytee D. White on February 25, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Maxwell discusses his personal history and his role as Director of Early Childhood Connection with the Las Vegas, Nevada Urban League. He describes the work he does with childcare, and how the Urban League receives funding. Maxwell also recalls his career as a teacher and administrator for the Clark County School District (CCSD). Later, Maxwell talks about the issue of school zoning in West Las Vegas, how people qualify for childcare subsidies, and the school-to-prison pipeline that many African American youth face. Lastly, Maxwell discusses the importance of having educated children in the African American community and the development of the Westside.
Oral history interview with Charles Silvestri conducted by Claytee D. White on December 31, 2012 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Silvestri begins by discussing his family history and his personal history in the United States Army during the 1950s. He describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1957 after leaving the army, working as a casino dealer at The Mint Hotel and Casino and California Club while attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, called Nevada Southern University at the time. Silvestri then describes attending the University of Nevada, Reno to finish his degree and moving back to Las Vegas to begin his career as a teacher. Lastly, he talks about life in Las Vegas, entertainment in the city, race relations in Las Vegas during the 1960s, and the middle school that was named in his honor.
Oral history interview with Larry K. Lytle conducted by Kenneth V. Higbee on April 26, 2004 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Lytle reflects upon his 30-year career as a teacher and administrator with Nevada’s Lincoln County School District (LCSD) from the 1970s to the 2000s. He describes the process by which he became a principal, and describes his approach to fostering a safe learning environment for students and staff. He also describes how his religious beliefs shaped his approach to leadership, and how his responsibilities changed over time as he simultaneously oversaw the elementary, middle, and high school in Alamo, Nevada. He provides his opinion on schooling challenges such as standardized testing, and offers suggestions for individuals interested in pursuing school administration.
Oral history interview with Dr. Michael S. Robison conducted by Harmony Ayala on November 24, 2003 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Robison reflects upon his career as a teacher and administrator with Nevada’s Douglas County School District. He discusses his experience as a principal, and also as Area and Region Superintendent. He discusses student cultural diversity within the school district and the state of Nevada, and his interactions with the Washoe tribe. He describes his personal approach to education, how his experiences shaped that approach over time, and how he interacted with students on a regular basis. He also shares his opinion on contemporary topics within schools such as overcrowding, vouchers, and violence, and offers suggestions for individuals interested in pursuing school administration.
Oral history interview with Jack Wesley Day conducted by Claytee D. White on August 19, 2015 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Day begins by discussing his upbringing and his service in the United States Army. He describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1961 to work as a teacher at Rancho High School before joining the Clark County School District administration in 1963. Day talks about race relations at Rancho High School, life in Las Vegas during the 1960s, and being the coordinator for manpower development training classes between the Nevada Department of Education, the federal government, and the Clark County School District. Day also describes the early years of Vo-Tech High School and other aspects of the history of Clark County School District, as well as his experiences working for the district.
Theron Goynes was born August 20, 1929 in Texarkana, Texas. He attended college at Texas A & M University, was in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), served in the United States Air Force, and then became an educator. Goynes met his future wife, Naomi Jackson, in Nashville, Arkansas where they were both young teachers in 1956.
Naomi Goynes was born as Naomi Jackson on October 30, 1933 in Memphis, Tennessee to a minister father. Her first job was as a maid, but she had dreams of attending college. When Goynes attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, she received her teaching degree in home economics. Goynes met her future husband, Theron Goynes, in Nashville, Arkansas where they both were young teachers in 1956.
Richard Morgan was born in Fresno, California. His parents moved to the San Francisco Bay area a few months later, where Richard grew up and attended grade school and high school. His father had moved there for the express purpose of giving his children the opportunity to attend U.C. Berkeley. Richard did in fact graduate from Berkeley in 1967 with a degree in political science. After college, Richard married and he and his wife worked for a year to save money to send him to law school. His wife supported him while he studied law at UCLA Law School from 1968 to 1971. After graduation Richard worked for two different law firms, eventually choosing Nausaman and Waters, Scott, Kruger & Reardon. He worked there for 9 years, making partner in 1977. In 1980, Richard left the law firm to teach corporations and commercial law at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. For three years he was an associate professor, and in 1983 was asked to take the position of associate dean. He accepted and held that position for four years. He then became dean at the University of Wyoming College of Law in Laramie, Wyoming. After 2 !/2 years, he was asked to return to ASU as dean of the law school, where he worked for 7 years. In 1997, Richard learned that UNLV was planning to start a law school. Remembering the advice of friends Booker Evans and Willard Pedrick to seize the opportunity to be a founding dean, he applied for the job. He met with Rick Brown, Christine Smith, Mary Berkheiser, and Dianne Retsell to come up with a general strategy for building a law school. Rick became the founding law library director and is currently a professor of law, Christine is associate dean for student affairs and operations, Mary is a clinician and faculty member, and Dianne became Richard's executive assistant. Richard and the other founding members recruited quality faculty members and with Carol Harter's influence, Bill Boyd's support, and aggressive advertising, the law school took shape. They achieved provisional accreditation in 2000 and then full accreditation with the ABA in the summer of '02 after the school moved into its present facility. In January of 2004 the Boyd School of Law joined the Association of American Law Schools. Today UNLV's law school offers a night program, a clinical program, the Saltman Center for conflict resolution, and a lawyering process program. The school is well known in the community and has become the community resource the founding members envisioned it to be. Richard believes the school will continue as it was begun—with an emphasis on excellence and progress.