My great uncle, Dr. Roy Martin, was a pioneer doctor in Las Vegas and still has several descendents living here. Uncle Roy was a visionary; he could see growth coming way back in the 1940s.
I remember hearing him reveal his vision for Las Vegas at a family dinner at the El Rancho Hotel when I was a visiting teenager. My sister Betty and her husband, Bill Urga, took Uncle Roy's advice and moved here in 1941. After the war, Bill opened the Clark County Electric Company.
My parents and I moved here from Des Moines in 1947. We opened a hamburger stand behind a gas station at 3rd Street and Fremont. Next to the stand was the Photo Mart and down a few doors was Garehime's Music Store. Rex Bell's Western Clothing Store was across the street. We got to meet a few Hollywood celebrities when Rex brought them over for a cup of coffee.
Within a year I left the hamburger stand and got a job next door at the Photo Mart doing photofinishing. I remember we had a really big snowstorm in the late '40s and the next day we had our biggest business day in photofinishing ever. I still have photos of this event myself.
I had the privilege of playing with the Bernie Hummer Band every Saturday night at the teen-age club. There may be some around who danced to our music. Saturdays were always long, because we would end up at the Bingo Club (where the Sahara stands today) to see a show and get a free breakfast. Those were the good ole days for me.
My history in Las Vegas was interrupted in 1950 when I left for active duty with the Navy, but I remained in touch by way of visits to see my parents and sister. And I watched Vegas grow from year to year.
I have to admit that I hated the desert on that first visit when I was a teenager. Uncle Roy told me that if I gave it a year, it would get under my skin, and I'd want to make my way back again. He was right. Just three years ago, I made my way back to Boulder City. And this time with my wife, Joyce. We both love it here.
BOB LEWIS
BOULDER CITY
Three generations of Philippine-Americans
My dad, Alex Cortez, was born in the Philippine Islands and came to Las Vegas in 1946. He was offered a job as a pantry man at the El Cortez Hotel on Fremont Street and retired from there 30 years later in 1977. Dad thought Jackie Gaughn was a good boss.
I was born here in Las Vegas 50 years ago. I attended E.Q. Griffith Elementary, Hyde Park Junior High and Western High School. We lived at Charleston and Decatur, and my friends and I often hunted lizards just across Decatur Boulevard in the desert. I am proud to call Las Vegas my hometown.
I was in the third grade in 1963 when I was invited to be in the Helldorado Parade. A mom of one of the students made us bonnets to wear, and we rode in a wagon down Fremont Street playing "Home Means Nevada" on our harmonicas. It was a great day, and I was very proud and a bit nervous.
This year my daughter was invited to be in the Centennial Helldorado Parade. I hope she has as good a time as I did!
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