L - S
Dr. Esther Langston (Class of 2021)
Dr. Langston is recognized as the first African-American social worker in the State of Nevada, as well as the first African-American woman employed at UNLV. She is one of the 12 founders of Les Femme Douze, in 1964, to promote cultural awareness, social graces, and educational scholarships for young women. A teacher and mentor to many during more than 50 years of community activism, Dr. Langston continues to advocate for education and justice.
E. Lavonne Lewis (Class of 2023)
Elsie Lavonne Lewis, a 50-year resident of Las Vegas, is the director of Business for The Salvation Army Clark County. She worked for EG&G, Inc. as corporate vice president of Human Resources. Ms. Lewis serves on several boards, including the Las Vegas Clark County Urban League and Silver State Health Exchange. She served in numerous leadership roles, including chair of the Nevada Cosmetology Board, chair of the city of Las Vegas Civil Service Board, treasurer of the Economic Opportunity Board, vice chair of the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, and board member of the Silver State Health Exchange.
Marzette Lewis (Class of 2022)
Marzette Lewis was an avid fighter for equal rights of African-American children and their families within the Clark County School District. Lewis’ major accomplishments include advocating for West Las Vegas to have a high school. Lewis is responsible for creating the first magnet elementary school in Las Vegas, Mabel Hoggard Math & Science Magnet School. She rallied to end the Sixth Grade Centers Integration Plan that bussed African-Americans out of their neighborhoods for all grades except kindergarten and sixth. Lewis created Westside Action Alliance Korps-Uplifting People (W.A.A.K-U.P.) and Concerned Citizens. She was the president of both organizations, as well as a member of the NAACP Board of Directors, Foster Parents of Southern Nevada Association, and a member of the Attendance Zone Advisory Commission for Clark County.
Dr. Beverly Mathis (Class of 2022)
Dr. Beverly Mathis, taught 17 years, served three years as assistant principal and from 1994 to 2012 served as the principal at Kermit Roosevelt Booker Sr. Elementary School -- a post she held until her retirement from the Clark County School District. In addition, Dr. Mathis has served as an adjunct professor and taught graduate classes at Nova Southeastern University, Southern Utah University and now, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In 2015, Dr. Mathis received the Lifetime Education Achievement Award from the Public Education Foundation. One of the many boards and committees that Dr. Mathis has been named was her appointment in 2015, by former Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval to the Nevada Spending and Government Efficiency Commission for K-12 Public Education. Dr. Mathis is the proud namesake of the Dr. Beverly Sue Mathis Elementary School – Home of the Mathis Mustangs, established in August 2017.
William McCurdy, Sr. (Class of 2022)
William McCurdy, Sr. served as the Constable in the Las Vegas Township. He is an accomplished consultant and has impacted many campaigns, beginning with Grant Sawyer. Since McCurdy was familiar with the political landscape, he has established relationships with State and Federal political leaders. McCurdy was credited with founding the Las Vegas Teen Democratic Club West to mentor and encourage youth participation in local politics. He is a mentor at the Boys and Girls Club.
Dr. James McMillan (Class of 2021)
Dr. James McMillan was the first African-American dentist in Las Vegas, and the first Nevada dentist to introduce dental implants into his practice. He became the president of the Las Vegas chapter of the NAACP, and helped to overturn Jim Crow laws in Nevada. Dr. McMillan helped to establish the local Black Chamber of Commerce, later serving as president of the chapter and served on the Clark County School Board.
Daisy Miller (Class of 2021)
A teacher, mother and philanthropist, Daisy Miller took the concept of neighborhood parenting to another level, living by the African proverb that "it takes a village to raise a child." Miller graduated from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, and worked for the Economic Opportunity Board as a family planning coordinator, before being employed at the Clark County School District as a teacher, counselor, and later an administrator.
Detective Herman Moody (Class of 2021)
Detective Herman Moody, Las Vegas’ first African-American career police officer, served on the city of Las Vegas Police Department, and later with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for a total of 31 years. He worked in patrol, traffic, larceny, vice/narcotics and the fugitive detail, all while mentoring hundreds of officers, including Deputy Chief Larry Bolden.
Henry Moore, Sr. (Class of 2022)
Henry Moore, Sr., was one of the first African-American teachers at the Historic Westside School. Notably, Moore was credited with introducing black history in the curriculum. His students became professionals in law enforcement, fire services, the legal field, future educators, judges and architects. Moore was also a founding member of the Westside School Alumni Association and lifelong board member. In 1988 he spearheaded the reunion of more than 1,500 Westside School students in a three-day event!.
Harvey Munford (Class of 2022)
Harvey Munford's work in the Nevada Legislature has contributed to an improved quality of education for the entire local community. Munford influenced the passage of numerous bills, particularly Assembly Bill 234, which enacted provisions related to multicultural education. The impact of this and other bills put forth by Munford were extremely important for the community, because these policies put the framework in place that urges school districts to make multicultural education a priority. The service Munford gave to the State of Nevada has paved the way to the revitalization of the Historic Westside of Las Vegas and teaching multicultural education in K-12 schools.
Senator Joseph M. Neal Jr. (Class of 2021)
In his 32 years in the Nevada State Senate, Sen. Joe Neal was a voice for Las Vegas’ poor and working class. He was the First African-American elected to the Nevada State Senate, and helped lead the way on public safety improvements in commercial buildings following the deadly MGM fire in 1980. Neal pushed for the expansion of Nevada’s library system, and called attention to police and sentencing reform. Senator Neal was referred to as “The Westside Slugger” for his political determination.
Claude and Stella Parson (Class of 2022)
Claude H. Parson Jr. was the coordinator of integrated bussing for the Clark County School District. He was also one of the first African-American teachers to instruct white students in Clark County. Stella Mae Mason Parson was the first African-American woman to graduate from any college in the state of Nevada. In 1965, Claude and Stella founded the Vegas View Church of God in Christ. To date, more than 60 ministries have been birthed out of this church which is known for its community events and activism. Vegas View served the community by opening a thrift shop, food bank, bookstore, daycare center, computer lab and Bible College. Their upwardly mobile Church of God in Christ created tutorial programs, youth programs, homeless ministry, prison ministry and a drug and alcohol recovery program.
Commissioner William Pearson (Class of 2021)
Las Vegas's first black city council member, Commissioner William Pearson helped bring the first library to West Las Vegas.
Maggie Pearson (Class of 2021)
Maggie Pearson is known for being a charter member of The Links Las Vegas chapter, a volunteer organization committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African-Americans.
Claude Perkins, Ph.D. (Class of 2023)
President Emeritus of Virginia Union University Claude Grandford Perkins earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi Valley State University, a Master of Arts degree from Purdue University in Economics, and a Ph.D. from Ohio University. He became the first African American school superintendent in the state, where he oversaw the desegregation program of the Clark County School District. He served as the State of Nevada Secretary of Commerce, assistant superintendent of secondary education, and Deputy Superintendent of Richmond Public Schools. Dr. Perkins was a tenured professor and founding director of Educational Leadership at Clarion University. He later sat as dean and associate vice president of Academic Affairs at Albany State University in Georgia.
Dr. Anthony and Diane Pollard (Class of 2022)
Dr. Anthony and Diane Pollard, establishers of the Rainbow Medical Centers and Rainbow Dreams Educational Foundation (Rainbow Dreams Academy). The foundation was founded in hopes of creating a better Las Vegas community by offering medical care and education services free of charge for those who need it the most. Dr. Pollard and Diane also established an annual Las Vegas Juneteenth Festival, which brings African-American culture to the forefront of the Las Vegas community. In 2009, Diane received the Governor’s Points of Light Award, the highest award bestowed by the State of Nevada with the purpose of inspiring individuals who make a positive impact in the lives of people.
Lou Richardson (Class of 2021)
In 1978 Lou Richardson founded his namesake company Richardson Construction Inc. His company helped build the West Las Vegas community with projects that encompass churches, libraries, community centers, fire stations, schools, parks and public art. His contribution to the Historic Westside Las Vegas’s built environment includes the Doolittle Senior Center, Pearson Community Center, Ruby Duncan Manor and more.
Vicki Richardson (Class of 2021)
Vicki Richardson is president and a founder of Left of Center Art Gallery, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization located in the city of North Las Vegas, focusing on education through the arts, mentoring emerging artists and engaging the community. She taught art in the Clark County School District for 18 years.
Reverend Dr. Sylvester S. Roger (Class of 2023)
Reverend Dr. Sylvester S. Roger attended the Clark County Community College of Southern Nevada, the University of Nevada Las Vegas, the American Baptist Theological Seminary, Bethany College of Nevada, and The Sacramento Theological Seminary and Bible College. He was seminar leader of the National Congress for Christian Education for 24 years and holds a doctorate in Theology and Counseling. He worked for the Clark County School District as a Human Relations counselor for 16 years, as well as a pastor with the Metropolitan Police Gang Force and Safe Village/OLP for gang victims.
Reverend Jesse Scott (Class of 2021)
One of southern Nevada’s most influential and effective civil rights advocates, Rev. Scott served as executive director and later president of the local chapter of the NAACP. Rev. Scott also headed the Nevada Equal Rights Commission in the 1970s, focusing on improving minority hiring at Strip hotels.
Eva Simmons (Class of 2022)
Eva Simmons served the community as a social worker for a brief period before entering the teaching profession in the Clark County School District. She taught for 10 years and then worked over 27 years as a Clark County School District administrator. She served as an administrative coordinator for Title I, an elementary school principal, director for employee management relations and chief negotiator on behalf of the school district with the various employee bargaining unions. Simmons distinguished herself by serving as the affirmative action officer, where she increased the diversity in the administrative ranks in the Clark County School District and mentored numerous females to become school district administrators.
George Simmons, Jr. (Class of 2024)
George Simmons Jr. was born in Roxton, Texas, July 26, 1937. After graduating from Carver High School in Midland, Texas, he enrolled in Texas Southern University in Houston, where he majored in Industrial Arts. After graduation from Texas Southern, he attended the University of Texas in Austin, studying Architectural Engineering. It did not take Simmons long after moving to Las Vegas in 1963 to begin making an impact on the Historic Westside. One of his important achievements was the design of the first mall in West Las Vegas, The Nucleus Plaza, formerly the Golden West Shopping Center. He also worked as a designer for Sproul Homes to design the Regal Estates residential area in North Las Vegas. He worked for various engineering firms that contracted with the Nevada Test Site for 47 years. He was an employee of Bechtel Corporation, one of the most respected engineering, construction and project management companies in the world. He retired after 47 years. His major accomplishments and contributions include serving as a board member for the Westside Federal Credit Union and the Valley View Gold Association. While at the Westside Federal Credit Union, he served as a member of the board of directors and was instrumental in establishing youth workshops in money management and financial literacy.
Dr. Lonnie Sisson (Class of 2022)
In 1972, Dr. Lonnie Sisson was the first African-American to be licensed in Nevada to practice optometry. He worked in the field until retirement in 2002. Dr. Sisson provided eye care to Westside indigent patients while serving as clinic director of the Operation Life Community Health Center. He chaired the Clark County Planning Commission (1972-1980) where he worked to assure improvements were made in his community, such as enhancements to streets (particularly West Lake Mead Boulevard) and building of the Westside Library. Meanwhile, he served as the director of American Society of Planning Officials, Vice-President of the Nevada Public Health Association and was appointed to the Nevada State Council on Children and Youth. He was also an active member of the NAACP and was involved in recruiting minority medical students in an attempt to encourage these students to remain in Nevada.
Sam Smith (Class of 2023)
Sam Smith, high school class valedictorian, served in the Vietnam War 1965-1967. He later joined the New York Police Department until retirement in 1974, the same year he graduated from Richmond College. Following his career in law enforcement, he worked for 22 years with the Clark County Fire Department as a fire inspector. Sam was instrumental in the recruitment of many Westside blacks to the Las Vegas Fire Department. He also owned a bookstore where he taught aspects of the U.S. black experience to many young people in the Westside neighborhood. He retired as the deputy fire marshal.
Dr. William W. Sullivan (Class of 2021)
Associate Vice President for Retention and Outreach and Executive Director at UNLV's Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach, Dr. Sullivan has directed the TRIO, GEAR UP, and equity programs at UNLV since 1978. Under the direction of Dr. Sullivan, these programs have assisted low-income and first generation students in achieving their educational dreams.