Clark County Parks And Schools Honoring West Las Vegas Residents
PARKS
Ethel Pearson Park
West Washington Avenue & "D" Street
Ethel Pearson has been a long-standing member of the West
Las Vegas community. In 1955 she was honored with the creation
of this park in the community. The park was designated as
a children's park on July 12, 1999.
Fitzgerald Tot Lot
"H" Street & Monroe Street
H.P. Fitzgerald came to Nevada from Virginia in 1940. After
graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1960, he
had a career as a teacher and school administrator. In 1956,
he became the principal of Kit Carson School, making him the
first black school administrator in Nevada. He was also the
principal of Jo Mackay School from 1961-1972. Mr. Fitzgerald
was active in many community organizations. He passed away
in 1965 and in 1983, Governor Richard Bryan named August 28th
as H.P. Fitzgerald Recognition Day.
James Gay III Park
Morgan Avenue & "B" Street
Mr. James A. Gay III was Nevada's first black mortician. He
began as an employee of Palm Mortuary in 1957 and retired
in 1984. He held important positions in several casinos, including
positions as the Recreation Center Director at the Aladdin
Hotel and Assistant General Manager at the Union Plaza Hotel.[Lubertha
Johnson's oral history states that he was the Asst. Personnel
Director at the Sands from 1952-1970.] Mr. Gay was active
in many community organizations including a long-term membership
in the local NAACP chapter and presidency of the Fordyce Club.
Lubertha Johnson Park
Balzar & Concord Street
Lubertha Johnson arrived in Las Vegas from Mississippi in
1943 with her mother and father. Her family owned a 24-acre
ranch in Paradise Valley. She was employed as the Recreation
Director of the Carver Park Housing Project in Henderson,
Nevada. She later worked for the Las Vegas Housing Authority,
and was instrumental in opening the Marble Manor, Las Vegas'
first public housing project, in 1952. During the 1950s and
1960s, she worked in the nursing field. Ms. Johnson was involved
in many community activities: president of the local NAACP
chapter and one of the signatories to the Consent Decree ending
employment discrimination in the Las Vegas hotel and casino
industry.
SCHOOLS
H.P.
Fitzgerald Elementary
2651 Revere Street
H.P. Fitzgerald came to Nevada from Virginia in 1940. After
graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1960, he
had a career as a teacher and school administrator. In 1956,
he became the principal of Kit Carson School, making him the
first black school administrator in Nevada. He was also the
principal of Jo Mackay School from 1961-1972. http://ccsd.net/schools/fitzgerald/
Addeliar Guy Elementary School
4029 La Madre
Addeliar Guy moved to Nevada in 1967 and became the first
black Chief Deputy District Attorney for Las Vegas. In 1975
he was appointed to the Eighth Judicial District Court by
Governor Mike O'Callaghan where he served for over 20 years
on the bench. He received numerous awards, including an award
as a Distinguished Nevadan and he served on the Las Vegas
Housing Authority. His name graces the A. D. Guy Club which
opened in 1990. (In 1997 this youth center partnered with
the City of Las Vegas and the Boys & Girls Clubs to establish
a West Las Vegas Club at 800 N. Martin Luther King Blvd.,
officially known as the Andre Agassi Unit of the Boys & Girls
Clubs of Las Vegas.) He has also been honored with the naming
of the Veteran's Administration Addeliar D. Guy III VA Ambulatory
Care Center at 1700 Vegas Drive in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mabel Hoggard Math and Science Magnet School
950 N. Tonopah Drive
Mabel Hoggard has had a long and distinguished career in education
as one of Nevada's earliest Black teachers. In a tribute on
June 15, 1989, Mrs. Hoggard was honored by the United States
House of Representatives, Hon. James H. Bilbray of Nevada:
135 Cong. Rec. 80. http://ccsd.net/schools/hoggard/
James McMillan Elementary School
700 Walt Lott Drive
Dr. James McMillan was the first black dentist licensed by
the state of Nevada. He had a long career in West Las Vegas
spanning over 40 years. He participated in numerous community
organizations. Highlights were: two terms as president of
the local NAACP chapter, the inceptions of the State of Nevada
and the City of Las Vegas Equal Rights Commission, and election
to the Clark County School District from 1992-1996.
Joseph
Neal Elementary School
6651 West. Azure Avenue
Joseph "Joe" Neal has been a State Senator in Nevada's legislature since 1973. Active in Clark County charities and chairing the Clark County Economic Opportunity Board, he has also received several awards, including the Lovejoy Award from the Elks Grand Lodge.
Charles
I. West, Jr. Middle School
2050 Sapphire Stone
Dr. West was the first black physician admitted to practice
in Nevada and the first black surgeon on the staff of Southern
Nevada Memorial Hospital (now the University Medical Center).
In the 1950s he was the founder and publisher of the Las Vegas
Voice, now known as the Las Vegas Sentinel-Voice. http://ccsd.net/schools/west/