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Transcript of interview with Jimmy Gay by Perry Kaufman, April 12, 1972

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Gay, James A., III Kaufman, Perry

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Interview with James A. Gay III conducted by Perry Kaufman on April 12, 1972. Arriving in 1946 from Fordyce, Arkansas, Gay became the first African-American mortician in Las Vegas. He later worked as Assistant Manager of the Sands Hotel and Casino and Union Plaza while serving as an executive board member of the Culinary Union. Instrumental in the Las Vegas community, Gay worked to improved race relations, addressing social, economic, and civic issues. Gay was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1988.Oral Interview with Jimmy Gay Conducted by Perry Kaufman April 12, 1972 Blacks in Las Vegas after 1946 Oral History Research Center at UNLV University Libraries University of Nevada Las Vegas Jimmy Gay interviewed by Perry Kaufman G: Gay C: Collector C: I am interested in where you're from. G: I came to Las Vegas from the state of Arkansas; the city or town is Fordyce, it's spelled FORDYCE. I was engaged in the funeral business. I was operating there, a funeral home and I had a monopoly on five counties, ah, which at this, at present they are five funeral homes operating the business I was handling at that time. I came to Las Vegas in the year 1946 which you will notice on the resume... C: Right. G: My wife developed a sinus condition that was beyond any help as far as the doctors were concerned, if we could not find a dry, un-humid climate. This is why we came to...
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