State honors supporters, participants in the arts

Daniela Mohor

Monday, Oct. 22, 2001 | 8:20 a.m.

The state honored 14 Nevada residents and groups for their contributions to the state's cultural life at a special event Saturday at the Clark County Government Center.

The governor's office, the Nevada Arts Council and the Nevada Humanities Committee annually celebrate individuals and organizations for their accomplishments in or their support of the arts and humanities.

Among the winners Saturday was Daniel Greenspun, president of Greenspun Media Group, who received the Nevada Arts and Humanities Award for Public Service. Greenspun was cited as a longstanding supporter of culture in Southern Nevada.

Greenspun helped found the Entertainment Development Corp., a nonprofit group that encourages movie production companies and entertainment industries to come to Southern Nevada.

Other recipients included Las Vegas residents Gus Mancuso, a musician and frequent lounge player, who received an award for excellence in the arts, and Louis Castle, co-founder of Westwood Studios, a Las Vegas company that designs computer games, who received an award for distinguished service to the arts.

Christopher Hudgins, former chairman of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas English Department and of the Nevada Humanities Committee, and Glenn Shaeffer, president and chief financial officer of Mandalay Bay Inc., received Nevada Humanities Awards. Schaeffer was cited for his work in establishing Las Vegas as a City of Asylum for writers in exile.

Joan Lolmaugh, manager of the Clark County cultural division, who established a program to put local artists' work on county vans, was also cited for her service to the arts.

The Wilbur S. Shepperson Book Award, which is given jointly by the Humanities Committee and the University of Nevada Press, went to Robert Laxalt's "Travel With My Royal."

Other winners from Northern Nevada included Linda Murphy of Winnemucca, who received the Arts and Education Award. Reno residents Al Tietjen and Bruno and Edna B. Benna won prizes for Excellence in Folk Arts and for Distinguished Service to the Arts, respectively.

William Metscher of Tonopah was among the Nevada Humanities Awards recipients.

Organizations and businesses were also recognized for their support. Wells Fargo Bank of Nevada, the Howard Hughes Corp., the Las Vegas Senior Center Humanities Discussion Group and the Lied Discovery Children's Museum were cited.