Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Local women provide Nevada history lesson

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 | 9:34 a.m.

Elizabeth Foyt's social column appears Wednesdays. Reach her at elizabethfoyt@prodigy.net.

The Nevada Women's History Project, Southern region, recently hosted its fall meeting and brunch at the Elks Club. Joyce Marshall was keynote speaker, providing a lively program about her experiences as a Las Vegas teenager in the 1950s.

Trained in oral histories and a seasoned researcher, Marshall was most eloquent as she shared her memories of the simple pleasures of small-town life and spoke of celebrations marking the 14 gaming properties that opened on the Strip in this pivotal decade.

Jane Olive, president of NWHP's Southern region, also a longtime resident, provided the display of '50s toys and casino collectibles, all assembled with an assortment of charming photos of our city in those less-hectic days, each illustrating her own Las Vegas childhood.

Included in the display were paintings by Olive's father, the late Elmo Ellsworth, depicting the much-heralded arrival of United Airlines' first scheduled flight to our city, and an above-air atomic energy blast. Ellsworth is fondly remembered for his leadership in the construction of the Las Vegas Convention Center and the early groundwork he put forth to build our reputation as a premier convention city.

Attending members and guests included Marion Kohler, Maureen Schnitzer, Bernie Lenz, Frankie Williams, Dee Dekeman, Beth Stewart, Jean Spiller and Perry Adair, an early leader in Southern Nevada's film industry and Screen Actors Guild chapter development. Also present was Mary Gafford, recent honoree of the Sarah Winnemucca Award, a state-level honor bestowed by the American Association of University Women. Gafford, a 30-year teacher, was recognized for her efforts to effectively implement the AAUW vision of educational equity in the community.

Participating in the Saturday event were Nancy Cummings and her sister, Terry Deskin, as well as Harriet Trudeau, Billie Shank, Beverly Carlino-Banta, Sandy Dinsmore, Ruth Norton, Connie Shelton and Mesquite Club President Billie Kenny. Longtime resident Jane Fleming, a graduate of Las Vegas High School in 1937, attended with her sister, Mary Ellen Schwartz, her daughter, Mary Blake, and daughter-in-law Kelly Fleming.

NWHP served as sponsor for the printing of "Women in Nevada History: An Annotated Bibliography of Published Sources," an index of information from 1881 to 1998 with 425 sources. The reference book was distributed to school and public libraries across Nevada.

Allf celebrated

Dr. Jerry Blankinship, Judge Phillip Pro, Wayne Blevins, Rob Bare and Gloria Sturman were among those who flooded Lawry's restaurant during the recent Allf and Associates reception. Hosted by Sullivan, Hill, Lewsin, Rez and Engel to celebrate its association with attorney and community leader Nancy Allf, the party proved a strong drawing card for the legal and business community. Presenting their best wishes were Brian and Anne Menzel, Harvey Burnett and Wayne and Stu Waymire, joined by Debra and Mitch Cohen, Jeff Villardi with his wife, Laura Cyr, Judge Michael Cherry and Allf's 4-year-old niece Rachel with her parents, Rob and Linda Taber.

Mingling at the dinner reception were John Wanderer, Cam Fehrenbach, Larry Dillon, Robert Brown, Barton Jacka, Dick Morgan, Bob Harris and Richard Fitzpatrick. Allf's husband, Dave Thomas, a political consultant managing campaigns in three states, attended with her parents, Juanita and Greg Mendoza. Allf, past president of the Clark County Bar Association, is a former trustee for the Pro Bono Project, creator of the Advocates' Council for Planned Parenthood and has served on countless civic and professional boards.

Benefit event

On Thursday the Golden Monarch Council will host its first wine tasting at 6 p.m. at Southern Nevada Music, 4795 South Industrial Road. An event to benefit Nathan Adelson Hospice's Families in Focus program, the evening will offer a wide variety of wines and hors d'oeuvres.

The Golden Monarch Council is an organization of professional women who regularly work to support Southern Nevada's only nonprofit hospice. Families in Focus is a program for bereaved families with children ages 6 to 16. For further information about the wine tasting or Nathan Adelson Hospice services, please call 733-0320.

Parental lessons

Family to Family Connection -- Northwest, one of 13 infant-support districts in the state, offers many kindnesses and serves as a helping hand to new parents, assisting with better parenting techniques and offering a chance to meet with other parents of newborns. Recently this worthy organization saluted the Goodman family, first family of Las Vegas, during a benefit luncheon.

Chaired by Maureen and Richard Femenella and generously underwritten by Charlie Palmer Steak at the Four Seasons, the Saturday event drew an enthusiastic crowd. Funds raised went directly to Family to Family Connection, which operates from the New Baby Center, 6114 West Charleston Blvd., to provide an educational and emotional support system for parents of infants from birth to age 1.

Welcoming arrivals were Mayor Oscar Goodman, his wife Carolyn, daughter Cara and son Ross with wife Emily, and the Goodman's first grandchild, baby Benjamin. Parents to four grown children, the Goodmans later spoke of their own parenting experiences. In the crowd were Virginia Valentine, Doug Carson, Dee and Ken Ladd, Melissa Fields, Charles Carter, Lois Tarkanian, Chef Les Kincaid, Brian Maher and Randy Eckland in addition to Dr. Jane Boudreau, Shari Farkas and Carol Kolberg.

Louise Helton, recognized for her work with Clinic on Wheels/Classroom on Wheels and other local endeavors, is president of the organization. Introduced with Helton by master of ceremonies Christian Kolberg were New Baby Center trustees Glenna Barnes, Tina Walls, Laurie Carson, Mark Howard, Marie Mitchell and Lara Kolberg. Others serving include Tracie Feeley-Graf, Karen Austin, Jane Gibsons and Richard Hansen.