Oral history interview with Ron M. Portaro conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on July 27, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Portaro speaks about Built-Rite Construction, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1993, and meeting notable Las Vegas men such as Pastor Paul Goulet Arnie Adamsen, and Charlie Kajkowski. Potaro also discusses how these experiences enabled him to benefit his church, his family, and his adopted community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Irwin Molasky conducted by A. D. Hopkins on June 08, 1999 for the Las Vegas Review-Journal First 100 Oral History Project. In the interview, Molasky discusses his early life in Ohio and moving around the United States before settling in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1951. He then talks about his company, the Molasky Group of Companies, and projects the company had been associated with. One project Molasky focuses on is the design and opening of Sunrise Hospital in 1958, located in Las Vegas. He recalls Nevada Senator Howard Cannon cutting the ribbon for the hospital's opening, as well as business partners for the hospital including Allard Rowan, Morris Barney "Moe" Dalitz, and Roy Cohn. Other Las Vegas projects Molasky discusses include the Boulevard Mall, Paradise Palms housing community, and the Bank of America Plaza near Fremont Street. Molasky also talks about a vocational outreach project he helped develop at the Irwin & Susan Molasky Junior High School. Lastly, Molasky talks about his personal hobbies and Las Vegas's urban growth.
Archival Collection
Archival Component
Oral history interview with Elmer Curley conducted by Claytee D. White on November 1, 2011 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Elmer Curley discusses working in public services at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Library for a number of years under a long list of library directors beginning in 1967.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carmen Benedict conducted by Tammy M. Wallace on April 20, 2006 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Benedict discusses her upbringing and inspiration to be a teacher in California in the 1990s and 2000s. She reflects upon the process by which she went from being a student instructor to a teacher, and from a teacher to a principal. She discusses the philosophy that guided her throughout her career and influenced her interactions with students and educators, and challenges that she faced as an administrator. She also discusses her regular duties as principal, expectations that principals face, and her suggestions on how to be a successful principal.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Francis Cortney conducted by Derek Bellow on February 16, 2001 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Cortney reflects upon his roughly 20-year career as a junior high school administrator with the Clark County School District (CCSD) from the 1960s to the 1980s. He discusses his upbringing and decision to become a teacher, describes the process by which he became a principal, and discusses challenges that he faced as principal. He expresses his opinion of standardized testing, and reflects upon having the Francis H. Cortney Junior High School named in his honor.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tom Hutton conducted by Beatriz Romero on November 25, 2002 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Hutton reflects upon his career in education in both Iowa and Nevada. He describes his upbringing, colleges that he attended for teaching programs, and how he first started teaching. He then discusses the process by which he became a school administrator with Nevada’s Clark County School District (CCSD) in the late 1980s, his approach to leadership, and his regular duties and responsibilities as principal. He also discusses retirement, and the factors that led to his decision to retire in the 2000s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John Delibos conducted by Claytee D. White on October 2, 2012 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. John Delibos discusses moving with his family from Wisconsin in 1959 to Las Vegas, Nevada and his experience being raised in a Catholic household. He then discusses graduating from Cornell University and returning to Las Vegas to work in various casino jobs. Delibos also discusses retiring from gaming and becoming a full-time interior designer.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Harry Myers conducted by Dan D’Amico on February 26, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Myers discusses arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1942 to work at the Basic Magnesium Plant. Myers then discusses the increase in gambling and development of casinos on the Las Vegas Strip. Myers later describes the social changes throughout Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Leslie W. Edwards conducted by John Porter on March 19, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Edwards provides an overview of rural Panaca, Nevada history starting in the early 1900s. Edwards describes how life operated for rural Nevadans and also describes his family's experiences on their farm.
Archival Collection