On February 29, 1980, Annie Shum interviewed Lilly Fong about her experiences as an educator and resident in Southern Nevada. Born in Superior, Arizona in 1926, Fong would eventually move to Las Vegas after marrying her husband, Wing Fong. Prior to this move, she received her education in both China and Arizona; she later completed her master’s degree in education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). In the interview, Fong talks briefly about her background and eventual move to Las Vegas. She describes how her educational career started at the historic Fifth Street School as a third grade teacher in 1950. Fong also lists several organizations of which she was a part, including the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Fong also mentioned that she and her husband opened their own Chinese restaurant, Fong’s Garden, on East Charleston Boulevard in 1955. Later in the interview, Fong describes her campaign for the Nevada State Board of Regents in 1974 where she would make several accomplishments in the development of UNLV, including the building of its Fine Arts Complex. Fong later talks about Chinese traditions in which she would take part as well as her life in China from 1930 to 1937. The interview concludes with Fong’s thoughts on the Asian Studies program at UNLV and her personal perspective on religion.
On February 20, 1979, Keith Thomas interviewed Dr. Holbert H. Hendrix (born 1914 in French Lick, Indiana) about his life in early Las Vegas, Nevada. The interview takes place at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in Room 312 of the Education Building. Dr. Hendrix first discusses his personal background and interests, as well as his occupational background in teaching. The two discuss changes at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, including construction, when the university began awarding degrees, and Dr. Hendrix’s reasons for moving to Las Vegas. Dr. Hendrix then describes changes to the Strip and how the hotel industry has changed since he first arrived in Nevada. The two briefly discuss how problems with prostitution may have increased since Dr. Hendrix arrived in Nevada. The interview concludes with Dr. Hendrix contemplating new problems that may arise in Las Vegas as a result of an expected population boom and his hopes that the Nevada state government would invest more into funding for education.