Folder from the Jean Ford Papers (MS-00025) -- Political materials file.

When farm-girl-turned-waitress, Margaret "Maggie" Price, came to Las Vegas from Ohio in 1950 with her husband, Francis "Frank" Price, she had no idea what was in store for her in the hot desert oasis. Maggie's career spanned a period of historical transformation in Las Vegas when Downtown was becoming overshadowed by the development on the Las Vegas Strip. Vaudeville and striptease acts were still alive, but the arrival of big-named acts, such as the Rat Pack, Barbara Streisand, and the King himself, Elvis Presley, were just beginning to take the lead. Organized crime was still a prominent part of the culture and brothels still operated somewhat openly. The three decades Maggie and Frank worked in Las Vegas provided them with front-row seats for the birth, transformation, and occasional death of numerous casinos, including the Sahara, the Flamingo, the Sands, the Dunes, the Tropicana, and the International. Initially going to work as a waitress at the El Rancho Vegas, Maggie

Coming from humble beginnings, Elaina Blake grew up in Port Orchard, Washington, where her father was in the logging industry and she involved herself in the love of horseback riding. After becoming engaged at age 16, she married the following year at 17 and moved to Las Vegas where she started as a statistical typist at the Sahara Hotel and Casino. This led to a position her to become an executive secretary at the Thunderbird where she dealt with the rampant sexual harassment that was typical of the executive office environment in the industry at the time. The rejection of those advances led her to start her career in real estate with Roberts Realty where she sold her first group of homes off of Nellis Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue. In 1976, she made the entrepreneurial move by buying into Roberts Realty, becoming an owner, and eventually buying out Young American Homes. She started giving back to the community through her service as being the first woman elected to president elect for the Chamber of Commerce in 1984 and also served on the Clark County Planning Commission for four years serving as vice chairman and chairman. She did such a wonderful job running the chamber, she was approached to run for Lieutenant Governor. Her involvement with the community increased during this time as she got involved with the United Way, saved the YMCA from closure and started the Focus School Project in 1989 with former superintendent Brian Cram where businesses adopt schools and provide money and volunteer. This project is still in operation today and has given back $8 million dollars to CCSD in volunteerism. During her time with the Chamber, she continued to work with major local builders such as Pageantry Homes, Heers Brothers, and Christopher Homes, which led to her taking another entrepreneurial milestone by taking a small team to create Blake and Associates. In 1996, Blake leveled up to become a developer starting with office buildings. As a champion for the inclusion of women, she never felt held back because of her gender and she always encouraged women in the Chamber to give more of themselves, even if it was for ten minutes because the men did so. In a male-dominated industry, Elaina Blake has been a trailblazer for women in business and the housing industry in the valley.

When Bruce Woodbury, native Las Vegan, attorney, and former county commissioner, looks back on growing up, he immediately says: My first memory of a house here in Las Vegas was in the John S. Park area. The Woodbuiy family lived in two houses in the neighborhood and attended only two schools, John S. Park Elementaiy and Las Vegas High School. Bruce's recollections begin in the 1940s, when they lived on the edge of town. Bruce has what he calls a "nostalgic yearning for the old Las Vegas, even though today it's an exciting, vibrant community in many ways." And during this oral history interview, he recalls the safe feeling of the times—unlocked doors and children allowed to roam more freely than today. The Strip was a "separate world" where kids like himself might go to a show occasionally with their parents, celebrate a prom dance or, as he did, get a part-time job. One of Bruce's jobs included being a busboy at the Flamingo Hotel & Casino where he confesses to learning and

On September 28, 1998, K.J. Evans interviewed former United States Senator Howard Cannon (born 1912 in St. George, Utah) about his life and political experiences. Also present were his wife, Dorothy Cannon, his daughter, Nancy Downing, and another participant identified as Caroline Rose. Cannon first talks about his family background and his parents’ occupations before mentioning his involvement in a music band and his pastime of flying aircraft. He then discusses his first political involvement and mentions his work for the Las Vegas City Attorney’s Office. Evans then asks about Cannon’s service with the Air National Guard and his combat experiences during World War II, specifically on D-Day. The interview then moves to a discussion on some of the work Cannon fulfilled as a senator, particularly military-based projects and black projects, and his work in creating Nellis Air Force Base. Evans later asks Cannon questions about his interaction with presidents, his thoughts on the Vietnam War, his support for civil rights, and his politically liberal stance as a lawmaker. Cannon also provides details on his relationships with Senators Walter Baring and Alan Bible, his interaction with Lyndon B. Johnson, and his campaign against Chic Hecht.