Six Famous People From Nevada

SIX FAMOUS PEOPLE FROM NEVADAJohnston died of cancer on June 27, 1977, at the age
EVA BERTRAND ADAMS was born in Wonder,of 65.
Nevada in 1908.  She went to school in Reno andHARRY MASON REID  is the senior United States
graduated from the University of Nevada in 1928, thenSenator from Nevada, and has been the Senate
taught for a number of years and then went back toMajority Leader since January 2007.  He was born in
school – to Columbia University to get herSearchlight, Nevada on December 2, 1939.  He was
Master’s degree in English in 1936.  She went onalso the Senate Minority Leader from 2005 until the
to get a Master’s degree in law from GeorgeDemocrats won control of the Senate in the 2006
Washington University.  She was a member of theelections.  He is up for reelection in 2010, with some
bar in both Nevada and Washington, D.C. andstiff competition.  There are several initiatives he has
practiced law before the Supreme Court in 1954. either sponsored or co-sponsored – The Prevention
President Kennedy appointed her Director of the U.S.First Amendment  (with Hilary Clinton) that would fund
Mint in 1961 and she remained in that position underabortion prevention efforts, He also brought to the
President Johnson, until 1969.  Upon retirement, sheSenate an ethics reform bill that would bar members
went back to live in Reno.  She died there on Augustof congress from accepting gifts, meals and trips from
23, 1991.lobbyists.  He believes that Roe vs Wade should be
WALTER VAN TILBURG CLARK  was born inoverturned, though he believes in a “restricted right
Maine in 1909, but grew up and attended college into abortion”  He has voted in favor of the
Reno where his father was president of the UniversityDefense of Marriage Act BUT he’s against the
of Nevada.  He received his bachelor’s andFederal Marriage Amendment.  This just gives an
master’s degrees from the University of Nevada. idea of where he stands on some of the issues.  He
His first novel, The Ox-Bow Incident   was publishedmakes his home in Searchlight, Nevada.
in 1940; in 1943, 20th Century Fox made a movie ofCARSON WAYNE NEWTON an American singer,
that book.  The City of Trembling Leaves  camewas born in Roanoke, Virginia on April 3, 1942.  While
next, and his book, The Track of the Cat was out inhe was still a child his family moved to Ohio.  There
1949.  He also wrote many short stories and poetryhe began singing in local clubs and theaters.  For
during his life. He died in 1971, at the age of 62.health reasons (he had asthma) the family relocated to
VELMA BRONN JOHNSTON was born on March 5,Phoenix where he attended high school.  In 1958, a
1912, in Washoe County, and grew up on thebooking agent from Las Vegas saw Wayne on a
family’s  “Double Lazy Heart Ranch”  local TV show.  As a result, he’s been based in
When she married Charles Johnston they turned theLas Vegas, Nevada as an entertainer for over 40
ranch into a “dude ranch” for children.  She isyears. He’s earned the nickname Mr. Las Vegas. 
well-known as an animal rights activist.  She led aDOLORA ZAJICK was born in Salem, Oregon on
campaign to stop the removal of wild horses andMarch 24, 1952, but she was raised in Nevada.  She
burros from public land and was instrumental in gettingis an American opera star who “is arguably the
legislation passed to stop aircraft and land vehiclesleading exponent in the dramatic Verdian
from being used to capture those wild horses andmezzo-soprano repertoire” (Wikipedia).   She has
burros and causing their death.  The 92nd U.S.worked with the New York Metropolitan Opera.  She
Congress passed the Wild Free-Roaming Horses andgraduated from the University of Nevada in Reno and
Burros Act of 1971.  President Nixon signed it intoshe still makes her home in Reno.
law.