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.
In 1944, Robert Forbuss' mother bought a home in a new tract development called Huntridge, adjacent to the John S. Park Neighborhood. She was a single woman who had managed to put together the down payment from her earnings as a cocktail waitress. A couple years later John S. Park Elementary School was built nearby. Through any ups and downs, Marjorie Forbuss refused to live anywhere else for the rest of life, even when Robert encouraged her to move. For this interview, Robert intersperse Las Vegas history while sharing childhood memories of the neighborhood. He graduated from Bishop Gorman High School, the private Catholic prep school, in the mid-1960s. A few years later, Robert returned there as a teacher from 1973 - 1981, teaching kids with familiar last names in the neighborhood he had grown up in. During that time he lived in the John S. Park Neighborhood. He details the charm of the neighborhood, cruising the Downtown area, shopping on Fremont Street and much more. When Robert left teaching, he became the general manger of Mercy Ambulance and Medical Supply, which he ultimately owned until about 2003. During this time, he was a successful business leader and an active community member.
On March 12, 1975, Anne Cope interviewed Tropicana Hotel decorator, Lyla Joy Ford (born December 12, 1928 in Las Vegas, Nevada) in her home in Las Vegas. During the interview, Ford discusses social life in Las Vegas in the early days. She mentions the Palace Theatre, which became the Guild and the El Portal Theatre. She recalls Sammy Davis Jr. performing at the El Rancho but states that people of color were not allowed in the audience. She remembers the Helldorado Parade as a big western celebration. Her family used to own the Old Ranch, also known as the Stewart Ranch. She states that the railroad, Hoover Dam, and the Basic Magnesium Plant brought money into Las Vegas. She also recalls the atomic tests and witnessing the city’s gradual transformation from a small farming town to a major gambling city.
On March 2, 1977, Sam Copeland interviewed Carol Forsythe about her experience living in Las Vegas, Nevada. Carol first describes the details with which she was familiar about her husband’s career as a firefighter, specifically facts about the growth of the Clark County Fire Department. Forsythe later talks about the development of the town when she first arrived in Las Vegas, and she later describes the different residences at which she and her family lived. She also describes the different changes in building and development over time in Las Vegas, and she mentions the early use of swamp coolers before air conditioning. The narration concludes with Forsythe’s description of the Helldorado tradition and its changes as well as her family’s Episcopalian faith and the churches they attended.
On March 4, 1978, Bill Cunningham interviewed Norman Forsythe (born 1927 in St. Paris, Ohio) about his experience as a firefighter in Las Vegas, Nevada. Forsythe discusses his original move to Las Vegas and his eventual joining of both the city of Las Vegas and Clark County Fire Departments. He also goes into detail about fighting the fire at the El Rancho Vegas in 1960. Forsythe also talks about the responsibilities as his then-current rank of battalion chief. The two also discuss housing in Las Vegas, the living conditions of the city, and Forsythe’s family. The interview concludes with Forsythe talking briefly about his family’s recreational activities and his experience as a baseball coach.
On March 19, 1981, Steve Flint interviewed Norman Forsythe (born 1927 in St. Paris, Ohio) about his experiences living in Las Vegas, Nevada. Forsythe talks mainly about his arrival to Las Vegas and his time as a firefighter with, at first, the Las Vegas Fire Department and thereafter the Clark County Fire Department, where he eventually became a battalion chief. Forsythe also talks about the history and development of Las Vegas, the prices of land, some notable fires, including the El Rancho Vegas fire, and what he recalls about the aboveground atomic testing.
On March 2, 1978, Kelley Tuchman interviewed Dr. Robert Foster (born 1921 in Colorado Springs, Colorado), principal of Helen J. Stewart School, about his experiences in educating and helping the mentally disabled. Foster first talks about his background in the military and his eventual teaching experience in special education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Foster then discusses his motivations for getting into the special education field and later talks about the growth of the program in Clark County and throughout the country. He also describes the role of legislation in helping the mentally disabled and later goes into detail about the approaches of the training and education program itself. Toward the end of the interview, Foster mentions a few of his personal experiences and discusses the importance of volunteering to help the mentally and physically disabled.
Louise Lorenzi Fountain was born on Nov. 14, 1913, to David Lorenzi, a French immigrant, and Julia Travese Moore from La Belle, Missouri. Her younger years were devoted to helping her father develop and manage Lorenzi Lake Park, which was built by Lorenzi and is considered a primary landmark in the development and life of the citizens of Las Vegas. Louise Lorenzi's father has been noted as one of the 100 most influential citizens of Las Vegas by the Las Vegas Review Journal. He opened the park in 1926 with a pair of man-made lakes and a swimming pool, dance hall, band shell and other amenities. In the interview, Louise talks about her father and mother and describes Las Vegas during its early years. Louise Lorenzi married Edgar Fountain in 1936. He had hitchhiked from Georgia in search of work on the construction of Boulder Dam, now Hoover Dam. The couple left Las Vegas for 10 years and lived in Grand Coulee, Washington, where he helped build Grand Coulee Dam. After returning to Las Vegas, Louise became a full partner in several business ventures the couple started. Those included the Nevada Amusement Co., a collection of 35 coin-operated phonograph machines; Frontier Radio and Appliance Co.; and later a television sales business; partnerships in two soft-drink bottling companies and a Toyota dealership. Louise Lorenzi Fountain was active in two Methodist churches and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. She was a charter member and regent of the Valley of Fire Chapter of The Daughters of the American Revolution. Louise Lorenzi Fountain passed away on January 29, 2006 at 92 years of age.
On February 25, 1980, Don Scott Kaye interviewed genealogist Pauleen Foutz (born November 26, 1906 in Provo, Utah) at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada. Foutz relocated to Nevada with her husband, who was a dentist, and raised her children in Las Vegas. Her children attended the Fifth Street School and later Las Vegas High School. She mentions that while her children attended middle school and high school in Las Vegas there was no problem with segregation. She also describes how Strip orchestras would provide entertainment for the children in the Las Vegas community by playing for their dances, such as junior proms and senior hops. During the interview, Mrs. Foutz discusses the history of Southern Nevada, social and religious activities in Las Vegas, her interests, extracurricular activities for local youth, and home and family life. While living in Las Vegas, professions she has held include schoolteacher, businessperson, and genealogist. She was involved with the Bicentennial celebrations in Las Vegas in 1967 and was very involved with the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, genealogical library in Las Vegas. At the time this interview was conducted, Mrs. Foutz was the president of the Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America for Nevada.
Elizabeth Frances, born in Laramie, Wyoming in 1931, was the fourth of nine children. Her father was a plasterer until WWII, when he went to work in the shipyards in Washington State. The family then moved to Salem, Oregon, and Elizabeth attended high school there through her junior year. She actually finished high school in Saratoga, Wyoming, becoming the first of her siblings to graduate. Elizabeth married the same year she graduated (1949) and followed her husband's quest for work to Oregon and California. It was in Santa Rosa that she entered into university course work for her LPN degree. Once they moved to Las Vegas, she entered the LPN program at Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital (now UMC) and graduated in 1965. During her five years in the ER at Memorial Hospital, Elizabeth entered the two year RN program at UNLV, graduating in 1971. She left the hospital to work for Dr. Fink for two years. She shares descriptions, explanations, and anecdotes about her time there, including much of the on-the-job training she received from the doctor. In 1973, Elizabeth was offered the opportunity to teach at the LPN school she had started with, and she also went back to UNLV for her baccalaureate degree (1977). She worked for Workmen's Compensation for four years and details the team components, job requirements, and the new-found respect that the teams garnered from doctors. Elizabeth was called to Sunrise Hospital in 1978 to fill a new position under the education department and worked there for 18 years. Though she has seen many innovations in medicine due to advancing technology, Elizabeth believes that basic nursing skills involving observation and knowledge of the patient are still of primary importance. After retirement, Elizabeth began working full time for the museum in Lorenzi Park. She worked in all areas and was docent for many years. She and other docents created their own program and study, travel, and read to further their art education. Elizabeth paints in oils and watercolors, has held exhibitions, and recently built an art gallery in her own home.