Deceased Sun executives to be honored

Thursday, Oct. 27, 2005 | 6:45 a.m.

Two longtime Las Vegas Sun executives who died last year are being honored for their contributions to Nevada.

A bust of Nevada Paiute activist Sarah Winnemucca will be dedicated in memory of Ruthe Deskin, the late assistant to the publisher of the Sun, during an unveiling ceremony, 1:30 p.m., Sunday at the Spanish Springs Library in Sparks.

Former Sun Chairman and Executive Editor Mike O'Callaghan, his late wife, Carolyn, and their family will receive the Lloyd D. George Family Values Award at a tribute dinner 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Deskin's daughters, Nancy Cummings of Reno and Terry Gialketsis of Las Vegas, lent to the Washoe County Library System the artist's proof of the bust they recently purchased from South Dakota artist Benjamin Victor, whose full-size clay statue of Winnemucca stands in the Capitol in Washington.

"Mother's roots are in Northern Nevada," said Cummings, who is director of the Washoe library system. "She was born in Yerington, graduated from UNR's journalism school and began her career at the Reno Evening Gazette. It is fitting to have this bust dedicated in her memory in Northern Nevada."

The dedication plaque describes Deskin as "a voice of reason, champion for the young and vulnerable, compassionate and caring (and) true to her ideals and convictions."

Deskin, a Sun employee of 50 years, died in February 2004 at age 87. A local elementary school and the activities building at Child Haven, a center for abused and neglected children she co-founded, are named for her.

The O'Callaghan family is being honored by the Las Vegas International Scouting Museum with the award that is named after a local federal judge. It was created to recognize families whose ethics and actions represent the scouting oath.

Mike O'Callaghan was a former two-term Nevada governor in the 1970s and a Sun executive from 1978 until his death in March 2004 at age 74. The federal hospital at Nellis Air Force Base and a local middle school are named for him.

His wife, Carolyn, who co-published the Henderson Home News and Boulder City News with her husband, died in August 2004 at age 68. The O'Callaghans had five children and 15 grandchildren.

The Las Vegas International Scouting Museum, at 2915 W. Charleston Blvd., is a nonprofit organization that preserves scouting artifacts and history but is not affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America Las Vegas Area Council.

Ed Koch can be reached at 259-4090 or at koch@lasvegassun.com.