Ferron, William Ewart

Born in Salt Lake City on February 23, 1887, William E. Ferron, graduated from 
the College of Pharmacy at Philadelphia, and later went to South America where 
he was involved in gold mining enterprises. Ferron arrived in Las Vegas in 1916, 
and partnered with Dr. Roy Martin in establishing the Las Vegas Pharmacy at the 
northwest corner of First and Fremont. 

He married Ruth Cooper of Salt Lake City in 1917 and they lived for many years 
in the former John S. Park house at the northeast corner of Fourth and Fremont. 
In 1918 he opened White Cross Drugs in the former Jewell Drug Store at Second 
and Fremont. It later moved to Fourth and Fremont, and as Las Vegas grew, a 
second White Cross Drugs opened at 1700 Las Vegas Boulevard South in 1955. It 
operated (under different owners) for nearly 57 years at that location.

In 1920, Ferron was elected mayor of Las Vegas, and led the city through the 
Union Pacific strike. Although he only served one term, the civic-minded Ferron 
was also active in several community organizations. A charter member of both 
the Las Vegas Rotary Club and the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Ferron also 
held membership in the Elks Lodge and was a 32nd degree Mason. 

He was president of the State Board of Pharmacy for sixteen years, and served on 
the local selective service board for twenty years. Ferron and his wife had two 
daughters, Barbara Ferron Doyle and Shirley Elizabeth Ferron Swanson.

His wife was a long-time member and past president of the Mesquite Club. Ferron 
himself continued working until his death from heart failure in January 1965. 
His wife Ruth, a last link to the early days 
of Las Vegas, died in 1990.