An Interview with R. Ian Ross and Irmalee Anne Gray Ross An Oral History Conducted by Claytee White __________________________________ The Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project Oral History Research Center at UNLV University Libraries University of Nevada Las Vegas ©The Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project University of Nevada Las Vegas, 2012 Produced by: The Oral History Research Center at UNLV – University Libraries Director: Claytee D. White Editors: Barbara Tabach, Maggie Lopes Transcribers: Kristin Hicks Interviewers and Project Assistants: Barbara Tabach and Claytee D. White ii The recorded interview and transcript have been made possible through the generosity of Dr. Harold Boyer. The Oral History Research Center enables students and staff to work together with community members to generate this selection of first-person narratives. The participants in this project thank the university for the support given that allowed an idea the opportunity to flourish. The transcript received minimal editing that includes the elimination of fragments, false starts, and repetitions in order to enhance the reader’s understanding of the material. All measures have been taken to preserve the style and language of the narrator. In several cases photographic sources accompany the individual interviews. The following interview is part of a series of interviews conducted under the auspices of the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Claytee D. White, Project Director Director, Oral History Research Center University Libraries University Nevada, Las Vegas iii Preface R. Ian Ross, better known as Ross, and wife Irmalee have dedicated their lives to serving, and improving, their community. Both Ross and Irmalee’s families moved to Las Vegas, from Los Angeles and Reno respectively, drawn by the opportunities presenting themselves in the growing city. While in college, Ross would spend his summers as busboy at the Sands hotel, where his mother worked as beauty consultant and salesperson. Ross attended law school, and soon after finishing, started a law firm with Jerry Snyder and Oscar Goodman. After a couple of years, Ross took a position with the City Attorney’s Office while also starting his own private firm. He later served as an assemblyman in 1977-78. In addition to his work as an attorney, Ross has engaged in various real estate ventures over the years, largely in North Las Vegas. He served as the president of the North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, and dedicated himself to developing this part of town. During this time, Irmalee was an active member in various social organizations, including Junior League, of which she still is a member. Having lived in Las Vegas for over 50 years, from ‘mob days’ to the present, Ross and Irmalee have accumulated unique experiences, and developed keen insights, about the growth, change and development of Las Vegas. Unlike others, they embrace the city’s continuing evolution as a community. iv Table of Contents Interview with R. Ian Ross and Irmalee Anne Gray Ross March 28, 2012 & April 5, 2012 & April 6, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada Conducted by Claytee White SESSION 1: Ross talks about his family; parents’ courtship; growing up in Detroit and moving to Los Angeles for grade school years, including Hebrew school. Family moves Las Vegas for economic opportunities. Recalls breaking neck in high school and deciding he wants to be a lawyer. Mentions childhood inspirations; Jewish youth organizations; meeting wife in high school; childhood neighborhood and neighbors in Las Vegas …………........1-6 Irmalee speaks about her family; parents meeting in Reno; father moving to Las Vegas. Family moves back to Reno, Yerington, then to California; father receives EDD from Stanford; moves to Las Vegas to lead school district consolidation. Recalls father leaving education for banking and public service; mother works as homemaker. Father chairs fundraising committee to purchase land for Nevada Southern ....................................7-13 Ross and Irmalee speak about Irmalee’s father’s self-published novel about Nevada; publishes book of poems and drawings as well. Mention elementary school named after her father. Ross remembers his mother’s work as a beauty consultant at the Sands hotel; working at busboy at Sands during college summer breaks. Recollects stories about Sinatra, Johnnie Rae, the Copa Room, segregation…………………………………14-20 SESSION 2: Ross speaks about early growth of Las Vegas, from 1905 to building of Hoover Dam to liberalization of laws and development of Test Site. Mentions housing development booms and busts, driven by savings and loans institutions, speculation. Both talk about various residential areas in downtown Las Vegas, and their respective communities growing up; relationship between these areas and the Strip………….................….21-28 Ross talks about law school; first jobs after graduating, in Carson City and then Las Vegas; works at District Attorney’s Office. Discusses starting law firm with Jerry Snyder and Oscar Goodman; dissolving firm for each to pursue individual paths. Ross joins City Attorney’s Office; supplements by starting own private firm………………..……29-35 Ross recollects working with George Rudiak; more about working with Oscar Goodman. Recounts stories about real estate ventures with Goodman, driven by Howard Hughes’ business expansion; co-defending accused in murder retrial………………………..36-43 v Irmalee discusses her job as a homemaker; raises two sons; actively participates in attorneys’ wives club; other social clubs and organizations. Both speak about spending time with Irmalee’s father and brother; taking their sons to hunt, fish……..………..44-46 Ross continues talking about working at City Attorney’s Office; pursues politics; becomes assemblyman in 1977. Meets Richard Tam and engage in real estate ventures together; buy 900 acres in North Las Vegas. Ross becomes president of North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. Discusses North Las Vegas’ growth plans………………...47-53 Ross discusses lengthy process of selling North Las Vegas lands; becomes Civil Service Board attorney; North Las Vegas Housing Authority attorney; manages this with private interests and law practice. Works on changing perception of North Las Vegas; prompting growth. Ross becomes Clark Country Health District’s attorney in 1988…………..54-57 Irmalee remembers going back to school and getting teaching certificate; teaches at Las Vegas Day School for 13 years. Mentions the role of Junior League in skills development. Ross discusses his unique method of getting know his clients; tells one more story about a real estate deal and the garbage company………………………..58-63 SESSION 3: Irmalee recalls the Walking Box Ranch outside Searchlight; stories of the Weikels, the owners. Ross recounts defending friend in suit brought by Frank Rosenthal; real estate standoff Steve Wynn; “Perry Mason case” defending accused rapist…………...…...64-70 Ross discusses time as assemblyman; decisions on big issues like Equal Rights Amendment, Laetrile, constitutionality of capital punishment, smog testing regulations. Continues recalling legislation on the right to die; bill to allow Nevada Attorney General to live outside Carson City; governor’s desire for landlord-tenant bill….…………...71-76 Ross speaks about passing legislation to create medical school in Reno; costs and benefits of financing professional schools for medicine, dentistry and law. Mentions school busing; sales tax issues; losing re-election to assembly. Talks about interactions with Senator Gibson; political term limits…………………………………………………77-82 Irmalee and Ross discuss transformation of downtown Las Vegas. Ross discusses elimination of railroad yards; determinants of downtown development. Both speak about Smith Center; ideal developments to continue rejuvenation; compare Las Vegas community now to ‘mob days’; their love for Las Vegas……………………………83-91 Index………………………………………………………………………………….92-93 vi vii viii This is Claytee White. Today I'm in the home of the Rosses. It is March 28th, 2012. Mr. Ross, if you will start first by pronouncing your name correctly and spelling your first name for me. Mrs. Ross, if you would do exactly the same thing. My legal name is R, period, Ian, I-A-N, Ross. My name is Irmalee, I-R-M-A-L-E-E—that's one word—Anne, A-N-N-E, middle name; maiden name Gray, G-R-A-Y; last name Ross, R-O-S-S. Wonderful. Thank you so much. Also, I prefer being called just Ross. Oh, really? Thank you. I will. Thank you. That's easier for me because when I look at your name I want to say Ean (pronouncing). That's why I prefer being called Ross. Good. Ross, if you will get started by telling me something about your early life. My father's name was Samuel Rosenbaum. He was born in Canada and his family ultimately moved to Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from high school, and through the apprentice program, became a pharmacist, ultimately owning his own drugstore. My mother's name was Ruth Schwartz and she was born in Chicago, Illinois. There had been a marriage between the two families. My father's sister married my mother's uncle. The matriarch of the family thought that Ruth and Sam would make a good couple, and so they engaged in correspondence, and ultimately married and settled in Detroit. 1 I have one living sister, Brenda, who lives in Southern California. She's seven years my senior. I had a brother, Barry, who died when he was about 29 years old. I forgot to mention my mother's occupation; generally, she helped dad in the store. In Las Vegas, she first sold ladies' dresses and then ultimately sold cosmetics at the Sands hotel beauty shop. I was born in Detroit, Michigan, on 12/12/38. We lived above my dad's drugstore. I grew up in Detroit until I was about seven years old. Then the family moved to Los Angeles, for a couple of reasons, primarily health-related; my mother and sister had severe hay fever and asthma, and the winters were tough.