Oral History Interviews
Total records in this collection: 4056Print version of all records
| Narrator | Collection # | Date | Project | Content | Transcript | Tapes |
| Rizzo, Richard J. "Dick" | OH-03254 | 2017 October 18 | Building Las Vegas Oral History Project | Dick Rizzo, Vice Chairman Emeritus of Tutor Perini Building Corp., has held every executive position in his 40 years at the company. After the Massachusetts native earned bachelor's degrees in civil engineering and business management at Lehigh University and graduated from Stanford University’s Executive Management Program, he worked for a small general contractor before joining the construction firm owned by his father and uncle. Realizing that he preferred a corporate business climate to that of a family-owned business, he moved his family from Maine to Phoenix, Arizona, and joined Perini Construction in 1977. The company's first Las Vegas project was for a Phoenix client: American Airlines wanted Perini to build a cargo terminal at McCarran Airport. Rizzo quickly rose through the ranks, and as the company took on more Las Vegas work, in 1980 he moved the corporate offices to Las Vegas. Here, Rizzo talks about nurturing Perini's corporate culture, working to change the way the public views construction companies, and, despite fears the public might associate the company with the mob, eventually breaking into the Las Vegas gaming and hospitality building market. He talks about building CityCenter, the Harmon, and the trust that undergirds his professional relationships with clients, architects, and subcontractors and about various charitable organizations he and Perini have supported, including their donation of the Perini Construction Management Lab at the UNLV Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering. Subjects: Las Vegas, NV; Perini Construction; Tutor Perini Building Corp.; Mardian Construction; Construction; Contractors; Subcontractors; Corporate culture; Mob; perception; trust; professional relationships; MGM; CityCenter; The Harmon; McCarran Airport; Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering; Tropicana; CircusCircus; Caesars Palace; Harrah's; Laughlin, NV; Trump Tower | no | 0 |
| Roaker, Guy | OH-01574 | 3/10/1981 | Local Oral History | Early Las Vegas history, changes in Nevada | no | 0 |
| Robb, J. Marshall | OH-01575 | 2/11/1973 | Local Oral History Project-Roske | Virginia City, Nevada; Reno; Nevada Test Site; Hoover Dam; Early Nevada History | no | 0 |
| Robbins, Adelaide | OH-02136 | 4/18/2008 | All That Jazz | Began piano lessons at 6 and a professional career at 12 years of age. In Las Vegas, she was "always the only woman in the band." Played many LV venues and still preforming at time of interview. ML 394,R62 2008 | yes | 0 |
| Robbins, Charis | OH-01576 | 03/17/1978 | Local Oral History Project-Roske | Silver Peak | no | 1 |
| Roberts, Elizabeth | OH-02248 | 7/6/1979 | Early years, Tonapah, education | no | 0 | |
| Roberts, Jill | OH-03413 | 2018 March 20 | Remembering 1 October Oral History Project | Raised most of life in Las Vegas, Jill Roberts is a graduate in the School of Hospitality at UNLV. About ten years ago, she became a volunteer and then CEO of Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) of Southern Nevada. She also works part-time for the Coroner's Office as an investigator. In this interview she explains the role of TIP and the volunteers in assisting those dealing with traumatic events and death; specifically she shares what happen for TIP at the time and weeks after October 1 massacre. Subjects: Traumatic Intervention Program (TIP), Coroner investigator, comforting families of deceased, thank you notes from survivors of Sandy Hook shooting in 2012 | no | 0 |
| Roberts, Raymond | OH-01577 | 03/13/1981 | Local Oral History Project-Roske | Las Vegas history 1956 - | no | 1 |
| Roberts, Traci | OH-01578 | 11/14/2005 | BOYER EARLY LAS VEGAS OHP | yes | 2 | |
| Robertson, Hattie | OH-01579 | 03/05/1980 | Local Oral History Project-Roske | Family | no | 1 |
| Robinson, Donna | OH-03655 | 2019 December 20 | Remembering 1 October Oral History Project | American Red Cross disaster coordinator and spiritual counselor. Talks about responding to 1 October shooting at the Metro Police facility; how the impact continues for her personally as well as others in the community. Importance of Healing Garden in the community. Subjects: Healing Garden, American Red Cross | no | 0 |
| Robinson, Lyn | OH-02161 | Sept. 18, 2014 | Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project | Lyn talks about her participation with the Sperling Kronberg Mack Holocaust Resource Center as official photographer of survivors for the Center. | yes | 0 |
| Robinson, Smokey | 07/23/1992 | Arnold Shaw | Entertainment. Interviewer: Joe Delaney | no | 1 | |
| Robison, John "Zach" | OH-02390 | 2013 February 01 | History of Emergency Medical Services in Nevada | After serving as a medic in the Navy, Robison began work for Mercy Ambulance in Las Vegas, Nevada. | no | 0 |
| Robison, Marlin | OH-01581 | 03/12/1981 | Local Oral History Project-Roske | Nevada history | no | 1 |
| Robison, Marlin | OH-03632 | 2019 July 02 | Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project | Marlin Robison grew up with an abusive stepfather. His violence put Marlin in the hospital several times and was probably the cause of other preventable accidents because of his nervousness around his father. At 16 years of age, Marlin turned the tables and stopped the abuse of himself and his mother. Marlin's first memories are of Cedar City, Utah then Overton, NV and Henderson, NV where Merle (stepfather) worked on the railroad making repairs. And although his mother, Velda, worked also, the family lived in grinding poverty. From a young boy he worked at jobs from plucking turkeys to oiling the wheels on railroad trains. The family lived in Carver Park, the original black neighborhood constructed by the federal government. At Basic High School, Marlin learned to box and became a Golden Glove champion. His father did not value education so Marlin quit in his senior year because he needed to work and he lacked too many credits to graduate with his class. He returned to school later in life and worked for Juvenile Justice System as a camp counselor, parole officer, supervisor, and became special mentor/father to Semi Gray, a budding genius he found and gave a chance. Marlin spends his time with his beautiful wife, Susan, and meets the gang from Basic High School weekly at the Joker's Wild. Subjects: Harry Reid, Cedar City, Utah, Overton, NV, Blue Diamond, Don Wilson, Bill Miller, Mike O'Callaghan, Child Haven, Spring Mountain Youth Camp, downtown Henderson, Juan's Fajitas | no | 0 |
| Robison, Michael S. | OH-01580 | 11/18/2003 | Oral History of the Public School Principalship | Education,Principal-ship, Clark County School District; Dr. Michael S. Robison is a retired elementary school principal. Dr. Robison has worked in various cities in Nevada such as Las Vegas for the Clark County School District and Minden Nevada for the Douglas County School District. Mr. Robison received a bachelors of science degree in biology from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1970. The following year he received masters degree in educational administration and supervision. Dr. Robison received his doctorate in educational administration and higher education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1984. | yes | 1 |
| Robison,Michael S. | OH-01580 | 11/24/2003 | Oral History of the Public School Principalship | Dr. Michael S. Robison is a retired elementary school principal from the Clark County School District in Nevada. Dr. Robison received his bachelors degree and two master degrees from the University of Nevada, Reno. Dr. Robison received his doctorates degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in educational administration and higher education in 1984. | yes | 0 |
| Robone, Nick | OH-03370 | 2017 December 21 | Remembering 1 October Oral History Project | Nick Robone is the Assistant Coach of the UNLV Hockey team. After being shot in the chest at Route 91, his mental, emotional, and physical acurity allowed him to heal and become more clear, focused, and positively progressive. His Italian family assisted with visits, many visits, that allowed him to tell and re-tell his story. He healed himself by not keeping anything bottled up inside. And he set a goal for his healing: his previously planned Hawaiian trip. He made that deadline and travelled with additional friends who signed on wanting to meet that milestone with him. Although today's country music is different from "old" country, Nick is still a fan. ["Old Country or classic country songs are steeped in Americana and tell the story of ordinary, loving, hard working, often hard drinking, and sometimes long-suffering people. ...Artists include Dolly Parton, Willis Nelson and Johnny Cash." https://www.ranker.com/list/best-classic-country-songs/ranker-music] Nick remembers 2 cracks and Aldean still singing. The next barrage was more sustained, Aldean ran as did Nick, his borhter, and their friends. They hid behind a cop car on Reno Avenue. The car had no keys inside but soon an ambulance appeared. Bleeding from the mouth and nose, Nick helped others who needed care more than he did. He waited for the next ambulance. He was taken to Sunrise while his brother, Anthony, a fighterfighter from Henderson, continued to help others. Sunrise was already a hectic scene when Nick arrived. He walked into the emergency room and was given a bed. About 30 minutes later, he was taken into surgery. While healing, he was contacted by people from other shootings - Matt Mika, present at the Congressional baseball pratice in Washington, D.C. and Kristin from Virginia Tech. Nike will use what he has learned in the aftermath to reach out to the future-wounded. Robone is beginning to plan a public skating event for the city of Las Vegas and will charge a minimal fee of maybe $10, to be used for a cause formed out of the 1 October Shooting. Subjects: hockey, Route 91 Festival, Italian family mores, Hawaii, Old country, Aldean, Sunrise Hospital, Anthony Robone, Matt Mike, Congressional Baseball pratice, Virginia Tech, Top Golf | no | 0 |
| Rodden, Mimi | OH-02570 | 2009 April 9 | The Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project | F849 L35 .R633 2014 | yes | 0 |
| Rodgers, Kerin | OH-01583 | 02/24/1998 | Gay Archives-Dennis McBride | Gay community in Las Vegas | yes | 4 |
| Rodgers, Kerin | OH-01582 | 8/16/2011 | voices of John S Park | F849.L35 R63 2010 Kerin Rodgers owned a retail fashion store and modeling agency with a friend in Santa Monica, California. She came to Las Vegas in 1966 to work at The Broadway department store. She bought a home in the John S. Park Neighborhood in 1974. Popular radio personality; active in local and national politics. | yes | 0 |
| Rodgers, Perry | OH-01584 | 03/25/2003 | BOYER EARLY LAS VEGAS OHP | no | 1 | |
| Rodiak, Gertrude | OH-01585 | 02/28/2008 | BOYER EARLY LAS VEGAS OHP | yes | 2 | |
| Rodriguez, Donna | OH-02196 | 11/24/2014 | AfAm Student Project - (Justin Burrows) | Parental relations; being reared by single mother. Mother worked in security/surveillance in hotel industry at a time when blacks could not arrest whites caught cheating. | no | 0 |
| Rodriguez, Kay | OH-03472 | 1997 November 14 | Las Vegas Women Oral History Project | Real estate. No use agreement. | no | 0 |
| Rodriguez, Thomas | OH-03476 | 2018 September 10 | Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project | F850.S75 R63 2018 Born Topeka KS (b. 1940) to parents of Mexican descent, Tom moved to Las Vegas in 1981 for a position with Las Vegas Consortium. From then his interest and knowledge of local Latino history and demographics soared. He is known for filing suit against Clark County School District for civil rights employment discrimination and for writing numerous books and opinion articles about local issues that impact the Latino community. Subjects: Chicano movement, Latino Youth Leadership, Clark County School District, Latin Chamber of Commerce, discrimination, and importance of writing about the Las Vegas Latino community | yes | 0 |
| Roetter, Guido | 03/05/1978 | Arnold Shaw | Entertainment. Interviewer: Arnold Shaw | no | 1 | |
| Rogers, Bill | OH-01586 | 04/25/2005 | Early Las Vegas-Roske | no | 2 | |
| Rogers, Bill | 07/21/1992 | Arnold Shaw | Entertainment. Interviewer: Ken Hanlon | no | 1 | |
| Rogers, Bill | OH-01586 | 4/25/2005 | Blue Diamond Oral History Project | Blue Diamond, Mining | yes | 0 |
| Rogers, James M. Rev. | OH-01587 | 6/30/2007 | Boyer Early LV OPH - NAACP | Uses his pulpit to address many issues that affected the black community, gives background of community marches against police brutality, detailed three cases that were particularly inflammatory and eventually lead to legislation that would create a citizen's review board for police and sheriff departments. | yes | 0 |
| Rogich, Sig | OH-02172 | 9/30/2014 | BELVOHP | The Honorable Sig Rogich is president of the Rogich Communication Group, an international advisory firm that offers counsel in areas of business dev, crisis communications, strategic planning, issues management, media relations, and govt affairs. For the past 40 yes, Rogich has served as an advisor to leaders in all levels of govt and industry throughout the US. | yes | 0 |
| Rohn, David | OH-02861 | 2016 October 20 | Slot Manager Oral History Project | HV6711 .R634 2016 Lemans Family Fun Centers, Colorado Grand, Johnny Nolan's, WMS, Kannakai Vista, Wildhorse (Oregon) | yes | 0 |
| Rojas, Joseph Dr. | OH-01588 | 02/25/1980 | Local Oral History Project-Roske | Medicine | no | 1 |
| Rojas, Joseph Dr. | OH-01589 | 09/30/2008 | Heart to Heart: A History of Las Vegas Health Care Oral History Project | R154.R63 A2 2009 Dr. Joseph Rojas is an obstetrician and a gynecologist in Las Vegas starting in 1961. He also started the first OB-GYN residency in Nevada, which led to the development of the University of Nevada School of Medicine | yes | 0 |
| Rojas, Mirtha | OH-03534 | 2018 December 06 | Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project | Mirtha was born in Havana into a musical and artistic family. She left Cuban to live in Florida with a brother and then relocated to Las Vegas in 2000. she is a member of the Culinary Union #226, and serves as a shop steward at Aria. She is guest room attendant and oversees Sky Suites. Interview is conducted in Spanish. Subjects: Cuba, Culinary Union #226, Aria Hotel, guest room attendant | no | 0 |
| Roles, Treva | OH-01590 | 2/12/2014 | Ward 1 - West Charleston | Early LV family that owned Rummel Motel. Shared photo album | yes | 0 |
| Romano, Daniel | OH-03537 | 2018 December 10 | Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project | Dan Romano lives in an area of downtown that he wants renamed "Fabulous" as in the sign, Welcome to "Fabulous" Las Vegas. Prior to living in this neighborhood, just east of the Neon Museum, he lived and served as president of the neighborhood association in the Biltmore area. Allegedly, his current house is legendary, constructed by a white lover for his black partner prior to integration. As the story goes, she was always dressed to the nines, wearing furs even in the summer. Dan got the bug for Las Vegas from his parents who lived for years in the classy trailer park above Lake Mead in Boulder City. His father designed skis thus as a young boy and into his teen years Dan spent almost every weekend in Las Vegas. His father tested his new ski designs on the lake and later moved his manufacturing location to Boulder City. While Dan's classmates in Walnut, CA were engaged in typical teen-age pursuits, Dan was introduced by this parents to dinner shows at the International watching Elvis, Bobby Darin, Ann-Margret and Liberace. Dan worked as the curator of the Neon Museum for almost a decade, beginning before it opened (2000-2009). He was available to receive signs that were usually delivered in the wee hours of the morning because of traffic problems encountered when transporting huge signs. His claim to fame is that he transfigured some of the signs spelling out different words - Desert Inn to 'Desire,' Moulin Rouge to 'In Love,' etc. Subjects: Yesco, Elvis, Liberace, Fabulous Las Vegas sign, International, Bellagio, vintage clothing shops, thrift shops, Boulder City | no | 0 |
| Romans, Sophie Bogdanovich | OH-01591 | March 3, 2009 | Blue Diamond Oral History Project | This is the history of Blue Diamond Village. Blue Diamond is located 26 miles southwest of Las Vegas. The village, originally known as Cottonwood Springs, changed its name when the Blue Diamond Company took ownership of the Gypsum mine and built corporate housing for the workers in the early '20s. Near the base of the Red Rock canyon, Blue Diamond Village was originally a stop on the Old Spanish Trail for traders from Santa Fe, N.M., to California between 1830 and 1848, according to the history committee's findings. road for the The Blue Diamond School opened in 1929. The company built bunk housing and homes for the workers that it started selling to the public in 1965. | yes | 2 |
| Romero, Fernando | OH-03490 | 2018 October 02 | Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project | Fernando Romero was born in El Paso, Texas in a musical home. His father and brother were avid music players, his brother left El Paso to play in orchestra in Las Vegas. Despite not being as passionate about music as the rest of his family, music was Romero's ticket to higher education. Romero attended University of Nevada South before it was renamed University of Nevada Las Vegas. Romero has gone on to be deeply involved in the Las Vegas community. He is the current president of Hispanics in Politics. Subjects: Hispanics in Politics, Nevada Association of Latin Americans, Education | no | 0 |
| RonNow, Garland | OH-01593 | 02/21/1980 | Local Oral History Project-Roske | Early Las Vegas history | no | 1 |
| Ronnow, Lori F. | OH-01592 | 03/11/1981 | Local Oral History Project-Roske | Mormon life, Brigham Young, early Nevada history | no | 2 |
| Ronstadt, Linda | 06/22/1988 | Arnold Shaw | Entertainment. Interviewer: Bill Willard | no | 1 | |
| Ronzone, Ann | OH-01596 | 07/19/2005 | BOYER EARLY LAS VEGAS OHP | Member of family that owned the famed downtown LV women's clothing store. | yes | 1 |
| Ronzone, R.J. | OH-01594 | 03/08/1985 and 10/20/1972 | Local Oral History Project-Roske | Early Las Vegas history | no | 1 |
| Rooney, Mickey | 03/04/1992 | Arnold Shaw | Entertainment. Interviewer: Bill Willard | no | 1 | |
| Rooney, Mickey | 10/21/1976 | Arnold Shaw | Entertainment. Interviewer: Arnold Shaw | no | 1 | |
| Roosevelt, Franklin D. | 09/30/1935 | Dedication of Boulder Dam | Dedication of Boulder Dam | no | 2 | |
| Root, Billy | OH-02569 | 2008 May 14 | All that Jazz: Those Who Played with the Greats | A tenor and baritone saxophonist who moved to Las Vegas in 1968. | yes | 0 |
