Longtime civic leader Pearson dies

Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004 | 10:53 a.m.

When William "Doc" Pearson was appointed to the Las Vegas City Commission -- now the City Council -- in 1982, he was a virtual unknown in political circles, having never before run for office.

A local dentist since 1970, Pearson was busy filling cavities at his South Rancho Drive office the morning he was chosen for the job over several candidates who were considered more qualified. He said he was surprised, but he also was ready for the challenge.

Pearson, who in 1988 held off a strong Democratic primary challenge from colorful casino owner Bob Stupak to earn his second term on the commission, died Wednesday morning in Las Vegas, the Clark County coroner's office said today. He was 84.

Services are pending, Palm Mortuary officials said today.

"I'm going to do the best that I know how," Pearson, the first black named to the City Council in its then-77-year history, told the Sun upon learning he was named to replace Roy Woofter on the City Council. Woofter, who later would become Clark County district attorney, had resigned to become North Las Vegas city attorney.

That "best" effort in his tenure on the City Councilt and in his two terms on the Clark County Commission resulted in a lot getting done in just 10 years in office.

He fought successfully for a new library in predominantly black West Las Vegas, worked to improve services at the county-owned University Medical Center as chairman of the hospital board, battled to reduce street crime and drug trafficking, supported road improvement projects and sought more minority hiring in the city and county and the awarding of local government contracts to minority-owned businesses.

"He really cared about his constituents and worked hard to help a lot of people," said university system Regent Thalia Dondero, who served as a County Commissioner with Pearson.

"He had a kindness about him that stood out and made people trust him. His knowledge and experience on health issues was so important to his fellow commissioners in overseeing UMC and understanding health care needs."

Born Oct. 13, 1919, in Alabama, Pearson earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Alabama A&M in 1942 and a doctor of dental science degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn., in 1945. He went on to take postgraduate courses at UCLA, University of Pacific and Loma Linda University.

Pearson served as a captain in the Army Dental Corps from 1951 to 1954. He was a recruiter of professional and scientific personnel for EG&G from 1965 to 1969.

Pearson was appointed to the then-$15,000-a-year city council job to fill the remainder of Woofter's term. He sought to be retained in 1983, but lost to Bob Nolen.

In 1984, Pearson was elected to the County Commission and was re-elected in 1988. During his second term, one of his sons, William Pearson III, died at age 41 in Alabama of complications from surgery to remove a brain tumor.

Pearson also served on the Clark County Health Board and the Economic Opportunity Board.

He lost to current County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates in his bid for a third term in 1992 and returned to his dental practice.

His wife, Maggie Scott Pearson, died in March 2002 at age 82.

Pearson was a member of the NAACP, Omega Phi fraternity and the Las Vegas Host Lions Club.

A complete list of survivors was not immediately available.