Ward, first black planning commissioner, dies

Lee Scrivner

Thursday, May 25, 2000 | 10:18 a.m.

George Ward was a jolly sort, always joking. When he took his grandchildren to the theater, after a funny scene had passed and the audience fell silent, he would keep on clapping and laughing, intentionally embarrassing his family. He got a kick out of that.

When his granddaughter Brandi sang publicly for the first time at her Faith Lutheran Junior-Senior High School commencement, he shouted out "Louis Armstrong!" to embarrass her. George Ward got a kick out of that, too.

But he also got a kick out of buying Brandi a car, paying its insurance and working to open and maintain a library at her school.

He did much the same for his other grandchildren, supporting them financially, volunteering at their schools.

George Ward, a 58-year Las Vegan and first black man to serve on the city's Planning Commission, died Friday at his home following a lengthy bout with cancer. He was 73.

Ward's role in life, his family says, was that of the jolly giver, both to his family and to the city of Las Vegas. He was Santa-esque, a small coincidence for a devout Christian who was born on Christmas Day.

For example, when he took his granddaughter Ty to see ducks, he laughed hysterically when she ran from them in fright. But years later, when she decided to go on a mission to the Philippines, he funded the trip.

But Ward's jolly generosity was not just relegated to his immediate family. He was flamboyant while serving his community as well.

To garner support for his favorite local causes, which were many, "he would cover himself in buttons and stickers and whistles," his daughter, Lovelle Howard, said.

But he was also serious. As a planning commissioner, Ward organized a successful drive for the annexation of the Vegas Heights neighborhood to the city of Las Vegas.

He was born Dec. 25, 1926, in Forest, Miss. He was a World War II Navy veteran, a member of the Vegas Heights water board and active in numerous community service organizations. He also served as minister at Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ for 40 years.

He was a Valley High School librarian, a social studies teacher and a member of the Nevada Teachers Association.

In February 1997, when Ward received congressional recognition at the fourth annual African American Cultural Arts Festival of Black Pioneers of Nevada, Mayor Jan Laverty Jones commended him for his commitment to education. "Perhaps his greatest gift is that of a role model for our youth," she said.

"George was a kind man who identified social problems and was willing to help solve them," former Nevada Gov. Mike O'Callaghan said.

He is survived by two daughters, Phyllis Ward and Lovelle Howard; four sisters, Fannie Dixon, Virginia Lydick, Floranell Strickling and Ida Webb, all of Las Vegas; two brothers, Bill Brown of Pasadena, Calif., and John J. Brown of Los Angeles; and six grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday at Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday in the Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ, 1117 F St. Graveside services will follow at 1 p.m. Saturday in Palm Memorial Park.