ABOUT OUR NAMESAKE

Born in 1907 in Panaca, Nevada to pioneer Mormon settlers, Elbert Edwards attended the
University of Nevada, Reno before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to accept a teaching position at
the newly opened Las Vegas High School in 1929. Edwards taught seventh-grade social studies
and also served as Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction and later was promoted to
Superintendent of the Las Vegas School District. During his 37-year tenure, he also authored
numerous publications on Nevada history, especially concerning Mormonism. Elbert Edwards
Papers MS-00311 - Page 4- In addition to his school service, Edwards was president and
executive secretary of the Nevada Scholastic League for eleven years, was a member of the
Rotary Club, and served on the Nevada Public Employees Retirement Board. Edwards was also a
member of the original Boulder City Charter and the City Civil Service Commission. He spent
sixteen years as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Nevada Historical Society. In 1977,
the Elbert B. Edwards Elementary School was named in his honor. He died in 1989 at the age
of 82.