Prominent Attorney, Civic Leader Dies from Cancer

Saturday, Sept. 14, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

"We have lost one of the best fighters in the state," said recently retired Addeliar Guy, the state's first black district judge. "The black community is going to miss him, and I personally have lost a good friend."

Archie grew up on the poor streets of West Las Vegas and went on to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he received a bachelor's degree and a law degree. He served as a legislative assistant to Sen. Howard Cannon, D-Nev., in 1967.

He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army and earned a Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medial while in Vietnam. He returned from Vietnam and began his legal career in the Clark County public defender's office.

Archie entered private practice in 1973, specializing in defense of people accused of narcotics-related or violent crimes.

Archie was later suspended from the bar and sentenced to four years in prison for a consensual sexual relationship with an underage girl. After being released from prison and overcoming a cocaine dependency he eventually was reinstated to the bar.

He served as chairman of the Nevada Equal Rights Commission, established an associate arts degree program in police science at Community College of Southern Nevada and was president of the Las Vegas chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Second Baptist Church in Las Vegas.

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