Down, James Henry, Sr., 1877-1946

County Commissioner and business owner James H. Down Sr. (1877-1946) was born in Michigan on September 20, 1877. After the death of both of his parents, he was adopted by Walter A. Down. In 1907 James H. Down married his first wife, Rogena Mahar. They moved to Nevada in 1916 and settled in Goodsprings, Nevada where he worked for George A. Fayle. In 1923, Down relocated to Las Vegas and operated a garage. He opened a Studebaker automobile dealership at the corner of Main and Carson Streets in downtown Las Vegas. In Las Vegas, James H. Down Sr. was active in the Fraternal Order of Eagles and was a founding member of the Las Vegas Kiwanis Club. He served as president of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce in 1932 and remained actively involved with the Chamber until his death. He sought political office in Las Vegas several times, running for Las Vegas mayor, Las Vegas City Commission, and Clark County Commission. Voters elected him for one term to the Las Vegas City Commission in 1933 and to the Clark County Commission in 1942. James H. Down Sr. died from a heart attack in 1946. His son, James H. Down Jr., was a member of the Las Vegas Housing Authority and also served as president of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce in 1948.