Oral history interview with Charlene Cox Cruze conducted by Claytee D. White and Karen Schank on August 9, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Charlene discusses her early ancestors traveling through the area in the 1850s and her grandparents settling in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1905, the year it was founded. She discusses how she is a registered Cherokee, Daughter of the American Revolution, and Daughter of the Utah Pioneers. She discusses her career as a Las Vegas tour guide and of her memories of the evolution of Las Vegas from a small town to a city with casinos owned by corporations.
Oral history interview with Lanny Lund conducted by Forrest Campbell on April 13, 2006 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Lund reflects upon his 35-year career as a teacher and administrator with Nevada’s Clark County School District from the 1960s to the 1990s. He discusses his experiences working at Clark High School, Rancho High School, and Basic High School, challenges that he faced at each school, and his approach to education. He also discusses his regular job responsibilities, and how his responsibilities varied from school to school.
Oral history interview with Pamela Salazar conducted by Mark Cheney on November 13, 2002 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Salazar reflects upon her nearly 30-year career as a teacher and administrator with Nevada’s Clark County School District from the 1970s to the 2000s. She describes her approach to school administration, regular job responsibilities and challenges as principal, and ways that she managed job stressors. She also offers suggestions for individuals interested in pursuing school administration, and describes elements of her training that she believes were most useful.
Oral history interview with Dr. Phyllis Kay "P. Kay" Carl conducted by Jamie Bailey on November 23, 2001 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Carl reflects upon her 30-year career with the Clark County School District as counselor, principal, and assistant superintendent from 1970 to 2000. She describes the process by which she went from being a counselor to eventually assistant superintendent, and discusses job responsibilities and challenges that she regularly faced. She also discusses challenges of diversity and integration, and offers suggestions for how to be a successful school administrator.
Oral history interview with Jose F. Lopez conducted by Elizabeth A. Hulin on September 11, 2001 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Lopez reflects upon his 31-year career as a teacher and administrator in Las Vegas, New Mexico from the 1950s to the 1990s. He discusses his educational background, and how needs for bilingual education programs influenced his decision to become a teacher. He then describes the process by which he became principal and superintendent, discusses his regular responsibilities and challenges, and offers suggestions for individuals interested in pursuing school administration.
Oral history interview with Joan M. Gray conducted by Kevin Gilmore on April 04, 2003 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Gray reflects upon her nearly 30-year career as a teacher and administrator with Nevada’s Clark County School District (CCSD). She discusses the process by which she became a teacher, and eventually an administrator. She discusses and compares the various schools where she worked, such as the Vegas Verdes Elementary School and Matt Kelly Elementary School. She describes her leadership style, regular responsibilities, and challenges as principal.
Oral history interview with Chris Erbe conducted by Jennifer Warner on November 15, 2001 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Erbe reflects upon his more than 20-year career as a teacher and administrator with Nevada’s Clark County School District (CCSD). He discusses the process by which he became a teacher, and describes how his experiences as a teacher shaped his approach to school administration. He describes his regular responsibilities as principal, some of his biggest challenges including safety threats, and what he believes makes an effective administrator.
Oral history interview with M. Joy Leavitt conducted by Matthew Jackson on March 09, 2004 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Leavitt reflects upon her 33-year career as an elementary school teacher and administrator with Nevada’s Clark County School District from the 1970s to the 2000s. She discusses her experience as a teacher and principal, her approach to school administration, and challenges that she faced such as being a principal at the time of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. She also discusses some of her best experiences while being principal and the environments of different schools.
Oral history interview with Saul Willis conducted by Claytee D. White on January 14, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Willis discusses his personal history and moving from Sondheimer, Louisiana to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1968. He talks about living in West Las Vegas, nightlife entertainment in the area, and community leaders at the time. He then recalls the increase of drug use in the Westside, being incarcerated for a year, and starting an automobile mechanic business. Lastly, Willis discusses his experience with the Las Vegas court system and the continued development of the Westside.
Oral history interview with Benilda Long Somes conducted by Vincent Long on November 29, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Benilda discusses her life in Magalang, Philippines and her immigration to Saipan, part of the Northern Mariana Islands, as a young woman. She talks about meeting her partner, airman Robert Long, the birth of their son, and Robert's untimely death in an air crash less than a year later. Benilda shares how she and her child immigrated to the United States to be with family and their move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2009.