Mulroy, Patricia

Patricia Mulroy was born in Frankfurt, Germany on February 24, 1953. As a young girl, she lived in several different countries, but always felt that the United States was her home. Her experiences abroad led her to develop a fascination with government work and state service. She arrived in Nevada in 1974 to attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In 1989, Mulroy became the general manager of the Las Vegas Valley Water District. She entered the field at a tumultuous time, facing the drought of the Colorado River and tension within the districts. She pioneered the Water Authority, which revolutionized southern Nevada’s water rights system and allowed the districts to deal with the issue cooperatively. She worked with other southwestern states and Mexico to support Las Vegas and Nevada through the drought. In late 2013, Mulroy announced her retirement from the Water District. Her legacy established a foundation for water rights reform in Nevada. At the time, Mulroy planned on using her background in water rights to help underprivileged areas gain access to free, clean water.