Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Some busy Nevadans

Friday, June 23, 2000 | 9:32 a.m.

Mike O'Callaghan is the Las Vegas Sun executive editor.

ASHLEY HALL retired as a brigadier general after more than 35 years of service with the Nevada Army National Guard. During those years he also was an outstanding public servant and successful manager for the city of Las Vegas, in addition to being a most productive member of Clark County government. Hall has also been successful in private enterprise and today is a vice president with Orgill/Singer & Associates.

My first recollection of Hall was seeing him as a young chaplain in the field with the Nevada National Guard in 1971 during one of my visits as governor. During the following several summers, I looked forward to our visits in the field, where he took care of problems faced by guardsmen and their families.

Maj. Gen. Tony Clark said it best when describing Hall as being special because he "treated everyone with kindness and patience as if the person he was talking to was the most important person in the unit." The Nevada Army National Guard has been fortunate to have Hall as a caring and dedicated officer and chaplain.

He is still young and the community can expect many more years of service from him as we move through the initial years of a new century. ...

One of my favorite Nevadans, Rulon Earl, celebrated his 90th birthday this month. It was only three years ago that he retired from the active practice of law. If I needed legal advice today he would still be the first person I would consult.

Since his birth in Bunkerville and education at Moapa Valley High School he has lived the history of Nevada. Like some other young men from the Silver State, he took a bus to Washington, D.C., found a job, and earned a college degree and then a law degree. Rulon did this during the depths of the Great Depression and graduated from George Washington University Law School with honors.

After working for the Federal Communications Commission in D.C. and the Forest Service in Arizona, he made his way back to Las Vegas 54 years ago and practiced law with his brother, Marion, for 42 years until Marion died. Both men earned reputations for their honesty and skills.

Today Rulon remains one of the bright lights on the Las Vegas scene. Visiting with him is always a pleasure because of the wisdom he has to offer and the manner he offers it. May he have many more birthdays so more Nevadans can have the opportunity to learn from him. ...

Guess what? Marilee Joyce's "Eye On Washington" has added a seventh station. The popular weekly show has been added to the menus offered by KPVM-TV 41 in Pahrump. It already runs on KLAS Channel 8, Las Vegas One, Cable Channel 39 and radio station KNUU (K-NEWS). Up in Northern Nevada it is shown on television KTVN and radio KSRN. Joyce also publishes "Nevada's Washington Watch" newsletter and does a statewide political program in Georgia. ...

My neighbor Tom Thomas has again been recognized for his skills and compassionate care of children. He is known in community and church circles as a man who cares about other people. Now his work with special-needs children has been recognized. A special award has been made to his Agape Villa as the Family Group Home of the Year. ...

Popular attorney Pete Echeverria of Reno has been given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association. Few people have achieved the success in and out of court that Pete tasted since returning from combat in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

I have enjoyed years arguing issues and fishing with Pete. In addition to serving as a state senator, he also chaired the State Planning Board and Gaming Commission with distinction.

Sen. Bill Raggio said it best when describing Pete as "one of the five best trial lawyers I have ever faced. He didn't like to lose, he was a great orator and he rarely lost. Pete had a brilliant mind, he was an engaging and lively person." Coming from Raggio this is high praise. Renowned trial attorney John Squire Drendel made the presentation and it was accepted by Drendel's law partner, Bill Bradley. Pete, for health reasons, was unable to attend the presentation made at the Paris Hotel last week.