Smalley, former legislator, longtime schoolteacher, dies

Monday, April 7, 2003 | 11:04 a.m.

When talk of countywide consolidation and annexations arose in the mid-1970s, James Smalley stood against any action that would swallow up Henderson.

"I will do anything to maintain Henderson's autonomy and identity," he said in 1974.

James Edward Smalley, who served as a Democratic assemblyman in the 1971 and 1973, died Saturday in Henderson. He was 78.

Services will be 3 p.m. Wednesday at Palm Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson.

"Jim was a great teacher and an accomplished educator," said Sun Executive Editor Mike O'Callaghan, who was Nevada's governor when Smalley was in the Legislature. "His quiet demeanor made him many friends, and his accomplishments will live for decades."

A longtime junior high school social studies teacher, Smalley threw his hat into the ring over concerns about air and water pollution in the Las Vegas Valley and state funding for education.

He supported legislation that strengthened the state Office of Consumer Affairs and a bill that paved the way for Henderson to open a dog racing track in 1981.

"I have only one special interest, and that is the people of Henderson," Smalley said while campaigning for office in 1974, twhen he lost his District 21 seat to Democrat Nash Sena.

In that campaign Smalley vowed to oppose any efforts toward annexation or consolidation that would include Henderson.

Smalley served on the Environment and Public Resources Committee, where he fought for maintaining a clean work environment, especially in Henderson's many industrial businesses.

Born Dec. 1, 1924, in Peebles, Ohio, Smalley served as a sergeant in the Army Air Corps during World War II and flew 38 missions over Europe. After the war he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in U.S. history at Ohio State University.

Smalley began teaching at the old Fifth Street School -- now a public building on Las Vegas Boulevard -- in 1949, but spent most of his teaching career in Henderson. He was a longtime teacher at Burkholder Middle School.

Smalley retired from teaching in 1982.

In 2002 Smalley and his wife of 56 years, Rae Smalley, were named Distinguished Nevadans by the state Board of Regents.

In addition to his wife, Smalley is survived by a son, Ed Smalley of Henderson; daughters Alicia Smalley of Minden and Esther Cothrun of Henderson; and seven grandchildren.