Rodman, Kitty, 1925-2014

Kitty Rodman was born on July 5, 1925 in Richmond, Virginia. Before she relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada and became known as the “First Lady of Construction,” she worked as a payroll supervisor for a government construction project in the early-to-mid 1940s where she gained experience in construction administration.

In 1946, she married Leon “Dick” Rodman when he returned from his military service in World War II. Kitty and Dick relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1952 after Dick reenlisted in the United States Air Force and was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base. In 1953, Kitty enrolled in the Dana McKay College of Commerce in Las Vegas and during her time at the school, became associated with a newly-formed company, Sierra Construction Corporation. She joined founders Bill Koerwitz and Gus Rapone at Sierra and quickly became the corporation’s director, secretary-treasurer, and part-owner. She held these positions until her retirement in 2003.

Outside of her construction career, Kitty Rodman was an active philanthropist and supported non-profit organizations including the Nevada Easter Seals and Opportunity Village. She was especially active with Opportunity Village, lending her business expertise to the organization in its early days and later sponsoring programs. Some of Rodman’s many activities involving the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) include providing a contribution to help establish the university’s physical therapy program in the late 1990s, co-founding the Jean Nidetch Women’s Center (known since 2020 as the Jean Nidetch Care Center), and supporting the UNLV Residential Life program.

Rodman was inducted into the Nevada Business Hall of Fame in 2007, and served as a member of the UNLV Foundation Board of Trustees for 25 years, attaining emeritus status in 2011. Kitty Rodman passed away on February 27, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sources:

Juhl, Wesley. “Parkinson’s claims generous UNLV supporter Rodman.” Las Vegas Review-Journal, March 1, 2014, NewsBank.

Kitty Rodman Collection on Sierra Construction Corporation, 1987-2014. MS-01205. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. http://n2t.net/ark:/62930/f1gz1g

“Las Vegas “First Lady” of construction, Kitty Rodman, dies after a lengthy illness with Parkinson’s.” Las Vegas Review-Journal, March 9, 2014, NewsBank.

The Women’s Research Institute of Nevada. “Kitty Rodman.” MAKERS Masterlist. Accessed February 12, 2025. https://makersteachingmodules.sites.unlv.edu/items/show/90.