Many nominated for The First 100

A few were rejected because they arrived after the deadline for nominations, or because there was no way to verify the accomplishment attributed to them, but most would have made interesting stories. Several interesting and important political figures and casino operators, particularly, were passed over to make room for a wider variety of subjects.

Below is a list of other persons who were nominated. In some cases, the Review-Journal was unable to authenticate the information provided about the nominees. But in every case, somebody considered the nominee important enough to become part of the historical record.

Adams, Joanie — Was 1957 Miss Nevada, won many other beauty titles. Also, entertainment coordinator for the Flamingo Hotel.

Adelson, Sheldon — Expanded convention business in Las Vegas, and built Venetian.

Adler, Wolf — Instrumental in creating Nevada Chamber Ensemble.

Advent, Mark — Conceptual designer of New York, New York resort.

Aggasi, Andre — After achieving athletic fame, Las Vegan helped his home town by supporting local charities.

Albanese, Thomas — Plumbing contractor and founder of the Las Vegas Chili Co.

Allen, Lou — Drove a dynamite truck during the building of Hoover Dam.

Allen, Margaret — A founding member of Junior League, lifelong active volunteer.

Apcar, Frederick — Major pioneer in defining Vegas production shows.

Armijo, Antonio — Brought trading expedition through this region in January 1830, establishing one version of "The Old Spanish Trail."

Banker, Lem — Professional bettor and sports commentator.

Barrick, Marjorie — Philanthropist, particularly supportive of the arts.

Bartlett, Selma — Pioneered lending and funding for small business and schools.

Beam, Tom — Was a substantial donor to UNLV and Opportunity Village.

Beckley, Will — Pioneer retailer, whose house is now at the Southern Nevada Heritage Museum.

Beesley, Hal — Land developer and philanthropist.

Bolognini, Enio — Great cellist who lived here and inspired serious music locally.

Borders, Myram — Ran United Press International bureau here for some 20 years, and served as Commissioner of Nevada Division of Consumer Affairs.

Borsack, Edward W. — Opened El Portal luggage in 1936, one of city’s oldest family-owned businesses.

Boyd, Bill — Golden Nugget poker boss who popularized game.

Brennan, James — County commissioner, and district court judge.

Briare, William H. — Served as Clark County commissioner 1963-1971, and mayor of Las Vegas 1975-1987.

Brookman, Eileen — Represented Clark County in state assembly, 1967-77.

Brown, Bob — Ran Valley Times newspaper, which briefly challenged dominance of Review-Journal and Sun.

Brown, Ed — Associated with African-American newspaper, The Vegas Voice.

Brown, Joe W. — Donated 410 acres to Clark County for convention center site.

Bunker, Richard W. — President of the Nevada Resort Association, Las Vegas city manager, Clark County manager, chairman of Nevada Gaming Control Board and chair of Colorado River Commission.

Burkholder, Lyle — Former superintendent of schools.

Burton, Dave — Strip lounge entertainer during 1950s.

Call, Anson — Mormon pioneer and founder of Callville, head of Colorado River navigation for steamboats bringing cargo bound for Salt Lake City.

Cannon, Helen — Activist member of Clark County School Board.

Carson, Eileen — Was chief clerk at Clark County Justice Court for 22 years.

Christensen, Don — Prominent leader in Mormon Church.

Christensen, M.J. — Started one of city’s first jewelry stores. Also served in state legislature, and worked with Maude Frazier to start UNLV.

Clark, Donald — Civil rights leader in 1960s, chair of Clark County Economic Opportunity Board and a county commissioner.

Clark, Nina — Purveyor of fine women’s fashions.

Clark, Wilbur — Home builder who conceived of Desert Inn, and built it with Moe Dalitz’ money.

Clyne, Richie — Built the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Cohen, Burton — Attorney and resort executive, he was an early proponent of special events to flatten out visitor volume through the year.

Cortez, Manny — Current president Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Crockett, George — Built Alamo Airport, which evolved into McCarran International.

Dickinson, James — First head of college now known as UNLV.

Di Rocco, Chuck — Publisher of Gaming Today.

Diehlman, Jake — Operated a crane at Boulder Dam, and founded Jake’s Crane and Rigging.

Dingle, Pat and Muffie — Started the city zoo on Rancho Drive.

Dondero, Thalia — Longtime Clark County commissioner.

Doric, Charles — Involved in development of simulcasts for race and sports books.

Drakulich, Michael "Chub" — Founded the athletic program at what would become UNLV, and served as first baseball, basketball and golf coach.

Ducette, Alice — A beloved first-grade teacher.

Duke, Forrest — Newspaper columnist covering entertainment, and Las Vegas booster.

Dula, Sgt. Robert — Motorcycle officer who fought juvenile crime in the 1950s, killed in the line of duty.

Duncan, Ruby — Welfare Rights activist and leader in black community.

Dungan, Flora — Worked for equal representation of Clark County in state government.

Earl, Ira — First Mormon bishop of Las Vegas, he also served on the local school board.

Ellsworth, Elmo — As sales director for the Las Vegas Convention Authority, he is credited with jump-starting the city’s convention business.

Engelstad, Ralph — Resort owner with an extraordinary auto collection.

Ernst, Suzanne — Advocate for senior citizens, she helped open many of state’s senior citizen’s centers.

Escobedo, Eddie — Founding publisher of El Mundo, Spanish language newspaper.

Evans, Claude "Blackie" — Prominent state labor leader since 1950s.

Farnsworth, Frances — Founded Mesquite Club.

Fleming, Stella — Administrator of Clark County Social Services for 40 years, and a founding member of St. Anne’s Catholic Church.

Fong, Wing and Lily — Wing Fong was a prominent businessman. His wife, Lily Fong, was University of Nevada regent.

Frehner, Merle — Involved in establishing Boulder Dam Area Council, Boy Scouts of America.

Garehime, Jacob — Founder of Las Vegas’ first music store in 1924.

Garside, Frank "Scoop" — Publisher of Las Vegas Review-Journal, and Las Vegas postmaster.

Gaughan, Jackie — Operated string of downtown casinos.

Gaughan, Michael — Perfected the suburban casino.

George, Lloyd — Federal district judge appointed by President Reagan.

German, Ray — Las Vegas newspaperman, teacher and university regent.

Goffstein, Benny — Was associated with Flamingo Hotel, and later built the Four Queens.

Gohres, William — Developer, builder and philanthropist.

Goodman, Carolyn — Started Meadows School, an outstanding private academy.

Goodman, Oscar — Now Las Vegas mayor, was outstanding attorney noted for defending organized crime figures.

Grant, Archie — Chamber of commerce official who helped Maude Frazier begin UNLV.

Gray, R. Guild — First Superintendent of Clark County School District.

Greenbaum, Gus — Brought success to fledgling Flamingo Hotel after Ben Siegel’s death, largely responsible for creating Paradise Township, thus fending off annexation of Strip.

Grier, Dr. Edmund — Physicist, and one of the "G’s" in EG&G, early contractor at Nevada [Nuclear] Test Site.

Gusewell, Francis W. — One of the original Elks, a Clark County commissioner, he helped to establish the tradition of the Elks Helldorado rodeo and parade.

Guzman, Al — Veteran Las Vegas resort publicist.

Hadland, Kenneth — Served as Las Vegas’ first park commissioner, beginning in the 1940s.

Hall, Ashley — Las Vegas City Manager 1983-90, he helped Catholic Charities to establish St. Vincent’s and and Shade Tree homeless shelters.

Ham, Artemus — A Golden Nugget founder, and a large donor to UNLV.

Hammes, Romy — Involved in establishing Bishop Gorman High School.

Hannifan, Phil — Longtime chair of state gaming control board, later chief of operations for Summa Corp.

Harris, Hanshue "Pop" — Figured in founding of Western Air Express.

Harrison, Sister Mary Carolyn — First administrator of St. Rose de Lima Hospital in Henderson after it was taken over from government following World War II.

Henry, Hank — Burlesque star and president of first chapter of Screen Actor’s Guild in Las Vegas.

Herr, Sen. Helen — State senator from Clark County 1967-1975.

Hess, Dennis — Instrumental in having Red Rock Canyon designated for recreational use.

Hicks, Marion — Partner in El Cortez and Thunderbird hotels.

Hill, Charlotte — Founder of Friends of Channel 10, United Way president and Boys & Girls Clubs president.

Hoggard, Mabel — Educator and civil rights leader.

Honn, Betty — Rescuer of stray animals, she also assisted homeless people at her shelter.

Houssels, J. K. — Started Las Vegas Club, owned Tropicana and part of the Showboat.

Hudlow, Lloyd — Assistant director of the Boulder Canyon Project.

Charles Hunsberger — Director of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, built several new libraries in 1980s and ’90s.

Hunt, Leigh — Las Vegas land baron in 1920s. Huntridge district is named for him.

Jefferson, P.L. — Built "The Brown Derby" club in a segregated Las Vegas.

Johns, Albert — UNLV author and political science professor who advocated the establishment of districts for state senators, who formerly ran at large. Later, a senior-issues newspaper columnist.

Johnson, Lubertha — Business woman and civil rights leader.

Johnson-Cunningham, Anika — Was a leader in helping African-Americans to understand their ancestral culture, and introduced African holiday of Kwanza to Las Vegas.

Jolley, R. G. "Rube" — One of the founders of city’s first TV station, KLAS.

Jones, Clifford — Former lieutenant governor and prominent lawyer, involved in dozens of international gaming ventures.

Jones, Glenn — Clark County sheriff in the 1950s.

Jones, Herbert — Lawyer active in state and county bar associations, and founder of First Presbyterian Church.

Keefer, Milt — The FBI agent assigned to watch Bugsy Siegel. He later became a respected attorney.

Key, Alice — Entertainer, civil rights activist and longtime Southern Nevada labor commissioner.

King, Richard — Journalist who was instrumental in getting land donated for North Las Vegas Civic Center.

Kishner, Irwin — A tourism booster, he co-authored the plan that created the Nevada Commission on Tourism. Also a co-founder of the Nevada Hotel-Motel Association.

Knudsen, K.O. — Inspiring educator, organized local system of junior high schools, advocacy groups for blind and retired.

Kogan, Jack — Early radio and TV personality.

Kozlowski, Mary — Environmental lobbyist, and the first woman appointed to the Colorado River Commission.

Kring, Gerald W. — Involved in bringing managed health care to Southern Nevada.

Krolak, Betty — Organized the Women’s Council of the Las Vegas Board of Realtors.

Ladd, James — Built first hotel and later first resort with pool.

Lamb, Floyd — Popular and effective legislator, convicted of political corruption.

Laub, Harold Goodspeed — Co-founder of Southwest Gas Corp.

Laxalt, Paul — Governor 1966-70; U.S. senator 1974-1986.

Lenz, Bernie (Ms.) — Started modeling school in 1949.

Levin, Al and Bonnie — Started Bonnie Springs Ranch in 1952, and built "Old Nevada" in 1970s.

Levy, Alvin — Former Las Vegas city councilman.

Ley, James — Clark County planner and administrator.

Leypoldt, W.E. "Butch" — Sheriff who closed Clark County’s last wide-open brothels.

Lionel, Sam — Founded state’s largest and most influential law firm, Lionel, Sawyer & Collins.

Lowell, William Jr. — Built town’s first outdoor theater.

Lynch, Clay — City manager of Henderson, later of North Las Vegas.

Lynch, Sister Rosemary — Anti-nuclear activist.

Mack, Jerome "Jerry" — Banker, civic leader, co-founder and constant benefactor of UNLV.

Malone, George "Molly" — U.S. senator from Nevada, elected 1946.

Marr, Howard — Involved in creating county’s first school program for handicapped children, and a founder of the Clark County Association for Retarded Citizens.

Martin, Anne — Promoted women’s suffrage, ran for U.S. senate in 1918.

Mary Kaye — Her Mary Kaye Trio was one of first Las Vegas lounge acts.

Maxson, Dr. Robert — UNLV president during period when enrollment rose by 10,000, and 17 new buildings were erected.

May, Ernest — First Las Vegas city policeman killed in the line of duty.

McAfee, Guy — Operated several downtown clubs and dubbed U.S. Highway 91 "The Strip."

McCall, Quannah — Local dentist and president of the Clark County School Board.

McClure, Florence — Helped revise Nevada’s antiquated rape laws.

McDaniel, James — Architect for several buildings at UNLV.

McDonald, Herb — Promoted Las Vegas as an event city, helped bring National Finals Rodeo here.

Mendoza, John — One of first Hispanic lawyers here, he became a District Court judge.

Michael, Charles B. — Pioneer working man, he dug ditches downtown, helped build the road to Mount Charleston and worked as a high-scaler at Hoover Dam.

Mikulich, Sebastian — Founder of Las Vegas-Tonopah-Reno bus line.

Miller, Steve — City councilman involved in government access cable TV and the CAT bus system.

Mitchell, A.B. William "Pop" — In an era when Las Vegas was still heavily segregated, ran a resort ranch on LA Highway where blacks could swim, hold picnics and dances.

Moore, R. Julian — Helped BMI complex go private after World War II.

Moore, William — Co-founder of resort, Last Frontier, 1942.

Morris, "Wildcat" Bill — Archetypical UNLV booster.

Morris, Steve — Lawyer who drafted Nevada Rules for Lawyer Discipline; chair and co-drafter of Nevada Rules of Professional Conduct for Lawyers.

Murray, Trudi — Owner of a fur shop which supplied the wealthy in Las Vegas’ era of elegance.

Neal, Joe — First black state legislator.

Newcomer, Leland — Clark County superintendent of schools 1961-65.

Newlands, Francis — Mississippi senator who created the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Newman, Cy and Evelyn — Started first black radio station in Las Vegas, KAVA, "The Cool Voice of Vegas."

Newton, Wayne — Entertainer closely identified with Las Vegas.

Oram, Kent — Very successful political campaign manager.

Pappas, John — Built the White Spot Cafe downtown in 1929.

Park, John S. — Rich Easterner who opened First State Bank in Las Vegas’ earliest years.

Peccole,William — Land developer and city councilman.

Pittman, Key — U.S. senator from Nevada 1912-1940.

Purcell, Roy — Noted Southern Nevada artist, and supporter of the Clark County Heritage Museum.

Pushard, Keith — Veteran worker for Nevada Power Company.

Raizin, Leonard, M.D. — One of the first board-certified anesthesiologists in Las Vegas.

Rasmussen, Charles — Psychology professor at UNLV and served on pre-professional committee which helped steer qualified applicants to medical schools.

Ralston, Jon — Political observer and writer.

Redd, Si — Head of largest slot manufacturing operation in the world, International Game Technology.

Reizner, Sonny — Highly respected oddsmaker focused national attention on Vegas by posting odds on offbeat events such as "Who shot J.R."

Reynolds, Debbie — Veteran Las Vegas headliner, who opened her own hotel-casino.

Reynolds, Donald W. — Bought the Las Vegas Review-Journal in 1949.

Riddle, Major — Owner of Dunes Hotel, Silver Nugget casino and others.

Rivera, Rafael — First non-Indian to see the Las Vegas Valley.

Roberts, Eugenia — Active in community concerts, opera and dance.

Rochelle, Michael — Pastor of Shadow Hills Baptist Church.

Rockwell, Leon — Early land speculator.

Rodman, Kitty — Building contractor and philanthropist.

Ruegg, Eleanor — Started the city’s first foreign currency exchange at the Bank of Las Vegas.

Russell, Col. Bob — Manager of Apache Hotel, now the Horseshoe, and city booster.

Ruvo, Angie — Lou and Angie Ruvo brought pizza to Las Vegas by opening the Venetian Pizzeria.

Schneider, Bernadine C. — One of the founders of town’s first battered women’s shelter.

Sakowicz, Sig — Las Vegas TV and radio personality.

Schulman, Bob — Builder of Alexis Park, major nongaming resort.

Schwartz, Reva — Brought Weight Watchers to Las Vegas.

Scott, Frank — Longtime Las Vegas businessman and builder of the Union Plaza Hotel.

Searles, Kenneth — Bought Anderson Dairy in 1939.

Seastrand, James — Longtime mayor of North Las Vegas, a founder of Vegas Village, the first all-in-one shopping center in the Valley.

Segerblom, Cliff — Noted local artist, active in Boulder City politics.

Sennes, Frank — Veteran Las Vegas entertainment director and producer.

Shelley, Deecie Kennicott — Citizen activist who helped create a low-income mobile home community for seniors.

Shue, Luther — President of Culinary Workers Union Local 226, he helped get its union hall built.

Siegfried and Roy — Popular Las Vegas stage act.

Silvagni, Pietro Otavio — Built the Apache Hotel, which later became the Horseshoe. It was the first Las Vegas hotel with air conditioning and an elevator.

Silver, Jeffrey — Noted gaming law attorney, casino executive and past member of Nevada Gaming Control Board.

Simanski, Lt. Col. Donald E. — Established electronic warfare range at Nellis Air Force Base, important feature of the "Red Flag" air combat games.

Simon, Peter Albert "Pop" — Owned and operated early airport in Las Vegas, now the site of Nellis Air Force base. Also, founder of town of Jean.

Smith, John L. — Popular local newspaper columnist.

Snow, Robert — Conceived what became Fremont Street Experience.

Snow, Larry — Popularized baccarat among Las Vegas gamblers; the game now can make or break a hotel’s monthly bottom line.

Soss, Fanny — Ladies’ fashion retailer.

Soss, Maury — Ladies’ fashion retailer and patron of the arts.

Steele, John — Architect of the 1855 Mormon Fort in Las Vegas.

Stuart, John — Created "Legends in Concert," the first hit show built around celebrity impersonators.

Sulich, Vassili — Founder and formerly artistic director of Nevada Dance Theatre for 25 years.

Tabat, Louis — North Las Vegas constable and businessman.

Tam, Richard — Land developer and major UNLV benefactor.

Tecopa — Chief who represented Southern Paiutes in late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Tiberti, J.A. — Prolific Las Vegas builder, he served on the city planning commission for 25 years.

Tocco, Johnny — Gym owner, who helped bring big-time boxing to town.

Ullom, George — Founded the Nevada Resort Association.

Underhill, Clarence — Opened first Coca-Cola bottling plant.

Vanda, Charles — Founded KVVU-TV, and started the UNLV Master Series and lecture series.

Vandenberg, Joylin J. — Downtown retailer who founded Opportunity Village.

Vega, Rafael E. — Businessman and philanthropist, Vega was appointed honorary consul general by the Mexican government in 1996.

Vincent, Bill — Review-Journal writer and editor; his writings jump-started the local environmental movement.

Vitto, G.L. — Eccentric sports commentator.

Warren, Elizabeth — Fought to preserve Las Vegas history and buildings.

Warren, Rose — Established first maternity home for women, and was famed for helping the hungry and homeless.

Wasco, Sister Angelita — Successful fund raiser for St Rose deLima, now St. Rose Dominican, with her Angel Bread Foundation.

Weiner, Louis — An attorney, chamber of commerce officer and city booster.

West, Dr. Charles — Las Vegas’ first black physician.

West, Pete — Pioneer Moapa Valley rancher.

White, Juanita Greer — Helped separate Nevada Southern, now UNLV, from the University of Nevada-Reno.

Wiesner, Tom — Businessman, casino owner and brewer.

Willard, Bill — Writer, artist and show producer. He was first executive director of the Nevada State Council on the Arts.

Williams, A.G. — Started first pest control business in town.

Williams, Claudine — Co-founder and head of Harrah’s Las Vegas.

Williams, Nancy — Poet who published three books about black experience, under name "Big Mama."

Willis, Vern — Started first travel agency in Las Vegas.

Wilkerson, William R. "Billy" — Original developer of Flamingo, muscled out by Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel.

Woodbury, Claire — Active with school board and state board of health.

Wright, Dr. John S. — Taught history at UNLV 1956-76.

Wyatt, Katie — Involved in development of Lee Canyon Ski Area.

Young, Brigham — Sent first Mormon missionaries to Las Vegas.

Zorn, Ann — Citizen activist who advocated strong flood control measures.

Zunino, Jack — Award winning landscape architect.