CCSN names building after the Rev. Caviglia

Friday, Jan. 14, 2000 | 3:04 a.m.

The Rev. Caesar Caviglia once turned down an offer to have a local public school named after him.

The longtime Henderson Catholic priest and educator affectionately known as "Father C," mused that his full name would be so difficult for youngsters to pronounce they would not be able to tell their parents or others where they went to school.

When it came to naming a building at a center of higher learning after him, however, Caviglia consented, noting that older students probably would have a better shot pronouncing "Ka-vig-lee-a."

About 300 people attended the Thursday afternoon dedication ceremony for the Caesar J. Caviglia Academic Computing Building on the Henderson Campus of the Community College of Southern Nevada.

"It's always nice to have something named after you," said Caviglia, a former anthropology, philosophy and sociology professor at the Community College of Southern Nevada.

"If I did anything worthwhile, it was that I came to Henderson. If I accomplished anything, it was because of the cooperation I got" from the community.

The building named for Caviglia, who retired as pastor of St. Peter's Church in 1994 after 22 years at the helm, is a 90,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility that also is used by students at Foothill High School, which is located next to the community college on College Drive.

"This honor recognizes the long-term role played by Caesar Caviglia in helping establish CCSN's Henderson Campus in 1981," outgoing CCSN President Richard Moore said.

Moore said that after Caviglia convinced the Nevada Legislature to approve funding for the 80-acre Henderson campus in the early 1970s, he could not wait for the buildings to be erected and started classes at St. Peter's.

"The influence of Father C is profound," Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson said during the ceremony. "He is a great advocate for our city."

Moore added, "This college is no accident -- it is the dream of one man. We dedicate this building to the life of Father Caesar J. Caviglia."