Distinguished Nevadans
The Best of Nevada
The Distinguished Nevadan represents the most prestigious award conferred by the Board of Regents. It is bestowed upon prominent individuals who have made significant achievements that have contributed to the cultural, economic, scientific or social advancement of Nevada and its people; or for exceptional service to the state or nation that has influenced constructively the well-being of humankind.
2024 Award Recipients
- Joe Brown
- Margaret Cavin
- Doris D. Dwyer, Ph.D.
- Jason Geddes, Ph.D.
- Russell Hurlburt, Ph.D.
- Dan Reynolds
- Camille Ruvo
- Carmelo Urza, Ph.D.
| Last Name | First Name | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Acree | Bert | 1963 |
| Adams | Eva | 1963 |
| Adelson | Mr. Sheldon & Dr. Miriam | 2010 |
| Alamo | Tony | 2003 |
| Albrecht | Fred C. | 2016 |
| Alden | Mark | 2016 |
| Andress | Donna Jo | 1997 |
| Ansari, Drs. | Nazir A. & Mary B. | 2007 |
| Ascuaga | John | 1987 |
| Avansino, Jr. | Raymond C. | 1992 |
| Ayoub | Amy S. | 2016 |
| Bailey | Anna L. | 2013 |
| Bailey | Judy | 1971 |
| Bailey | William H. "Bob" | 2013 |
| Baker Kaiser | Phyllis Baker | 1990 |
| Baring | Walter | 1975 |
| Barrick | Marjorie A. | 1982 |
| Barrington | Richard | 1964 |
| Bartlett | Selma F. | 2020 |
| Basta | George | 1983 |
| Bastain | Cyril | 1968 |
| Batjer | Cameron M. | 1992 |
| Batjer | Marybel | 2020 |
| Beam | Thomas | 1983 |
| Beatty | Clara | 1962 |
| Benna | Bruno | 1991 |
| Benna | Edna | 1991 |
| Bennett | Reverend Marion | 1981 |
| Bennett | William C. | 1996 |
| Benson | Dorothy E. | 1979 |
| Bently | Donald | 2002 |
| Berkley | Shelley | 2016 |
| Bernard | Lowell C. | 1995 |
| Bible | Alan | 1974 |
| Bible | Paul A. | 2015 |
| Bigelow | Robert T. | 1995 |
| Bilbray | Hon. James H. | 2015 |
| Biltz | Norman | 1970 |
| Blair | Minnie P. | 1967 |
| Blankinship | Reverend Jerome G. | 1994 |
| Bock | Joyce Anderson | 2018 |
| Bonner | Kittie | 1977 |
| Boyd | William | 1985 |
| Brady | Bill D. | 2016 |
| Brantley | Jackie | 2018 |
| Bray | Mildred | 1969 |
| Breen | Judge (Ret.) Peter I. | 2023 |
| Brewington | Ann | 1981 |
| Broadbent | Newell | 1968 |
| Broadbent | Robert | 1997 |
| Brookman | Eileen | 1982 |
| Brown | B. Mahlon | 1979 |
| Brown | Hannah M. | 2021 |
| Brown | Joe | 2024 |
| Brown | Merwyn H. | 1960 |
| Brown | Norman | 1974 |
| Brown** | Robert | 1984 |
| Bryan | Richard H. | 2011 |
| Buchanan, II** | James “Bucky” L. | 2010 |
| Buck | Carol Franc | 2022 |
| Bunker | Richard | 1993 |
| Bussell | Jerry | 2010 |
| Byron | Daniel F. | 1987 |
| Cade | Jerry | 1997 |
| Cahlan | Albert E. | 1966 |
| Cahlan | John | 1974 |
| Calhoun | James W. | 1993 |
| Calhoun | Thelma | 1978 |
| Cambeiro** | Arturo | 1991 |
| Cannon | Lou | 1983 |
| Capurro | Louis J. | 1998 |
| Carano | Donald L. | 2017 |
| Cashell | Robert A. | 1988 |
| Cashman | James | 1972 |
| Cashman, III** | James | 1996 |
| Cason | Jack | 1995 |
| Cavanaugh | John | 1974 |
| Cavanaugh | Margery | 1985 |
| Caviglia | Caesar J. (Reverend) | 2010 |
| Cavin | Donald | 2000 |
| Cavin | Margaret | 2024 |
| Cazier | Henry H. | 1962 |
| Cherry | Justice (Ret.) Michael A. | 2020 |
| Christensen | Carl J. (Judge – Retired) | 2012 |
| Christensen | Paul | 1997 |
| Christensen, M.D. | George Norman | 2019 |
| Clark | David W. | 1994 |
| Clark | Donald M. | 1985 |
| Clarke | Rosemary | 1984 |
| Clifton | Guy | 2022 |
| Coates | Dr. Jay | 2018 |
| Cobb | Ty | 1985 |
| Cobb | Tyrus W. | 2017 |
| Collett | Dr. Hugh S. | 2015 |
| Collins | Monsignor Thomas F. | 1976 |
| Cox | Walter | 1972 |
| Craven | Thomas | 1966 |
| Crear** | Barbara | 2018 |
| Crear** | Dr. John | 2018 |
| Crowell** | Robert L. | 2021 |
| Crowley, Dr. | Joseph N. | 2008 |
| Crumley | Frances | 1975 |
| Cuchine | Walter | 2006 |
| Dandini | Countess Angela | 1996 |
| De Longchamps | Frederic | 1966 |
| Dell Guy | Addelair | 1979 |
| Denton | Ralph L. & Sara P. | 2007 |
| Deskin | Ruthe | 1980 |
| Desmond-Hellmann | Dr. Susan | 2023 |
| Dianda | Norman L. | 1998 |
| Dixon** | Mead | 1993 |
| Dodge | Carl F. | 1998 |
| Dolan | Thomas S. | 2020 |
| Dondero | Thalia | 1995 |
| Donnelly, Dr.** | Charles R. | 2009 |
| Douglass, Ph.D. | William A. | 2019 |
| Dressler | Fred | 1979 |
| Dressler | John | 1970 |
| Duncan | Ruby | 1998 |
| Dwyer | Dr. Doris D. | 2024 |
| Eardley, Dr. | James | 2000 |
| Eklund** | JoAnn | 2021 |
| Eklund** | Lew | 2021 |
| Ellis | Robert P. and Sandra D. | 2015 |
| Ely | Joe | 1991 |
| Fahrenkopf, Jr. | Frank J. | 1990 |
| Faiss | Robert D. | 2013 |
| Fast | Mr. Monte & Mrs. Billie | 2010 |
| Fayle | Leonard | 1970 |
| Feltner | Barbara | 1984 |
| Ferraro | Gregory Wright | 2013 |
| Findlay | Cliff | 2019 |
| Findlay | Donna | 2019 |
| Fischbacher | Siegfried (& Roy Horn) | 2004 |
| Flangas | Gus W. "Billy" | 2015 |
| Flangas | William | 1984 |
| Fleming | C.E. | 1964 |
| Foley | Roger D. | 1988 |
| Foley. Sr. | Roger. | 1967 |
| Fong | Wing and Lilly | 1998 |
| Ford | Jean | 1998 |
| Forsman | Franny | 2005 |
| Fowler | Robert E. | 2017 |
| Frandsen | Peter | 1958 |
| Franklin, Sr. | George | 1969 |
| Fulkerson | Charles W. | 2006 |
| Fulstone, M.D. | Mary | 1964 |
| Fulton | Stanley E. | 1992 |
| Gallagher | Charles D. | 1961 |
| Gallagher | Dorothy S. and Thomas | 2003 |
| Gallagher | Morris | 1996 |
| Galloway | Anthony "Nino" | 2023 |
| Garrett | Elton M. | 1977 |
| Garside | Frank F. | 1961 |
| Garwood | Paul | 1972 |
| Gaughan | Michael | 2008 |
| Gay | Jimmy | 1988 |
| Geddes** | Dr. Jason | 2024 |
| Ghanem, Dr. | Elias F. | 2001 |
| Gianella | Vincent | 1962 |
| Gibson | James | 1973 |
| Gibson, Jr. | Fred D. | 1985 |
| Glaser | Norman D. | 1988 |
| Glick** | Milton D. | 2011 |
| Gojack | Mary | 1985 |
| Golberg | Michael A. (posthumously) | 2012 |
| Gomes | Nancy | 1979 |
| Goodall, Dr. | Leonard (Pat) E. | 2006 |
| Goodman | Carolyn G. | 1989 |
| Goodman | Oscar B. | 2020 |
| Goolsby | John | 1992 |
| Goulet | Paul | 2013 |
| Goynes | Theron H. & Naomi D. | 2011 |
| Gragson | Oran | 1977 |
| Grant | Archie C. | 1965 |
| Graves, II | Madison B. | 2004 |
| Gray | Leslie | 1982 |
| Greenspun | Barbara | 1991 |
| Greenspun | Brian | 1997 |
| Greer White, M.D. | Juanita | 1972 |
| Griffith | Robert B. | 1964 |
| Guild Gray | R. | 1991 |
| Guild, Jr. | Clark J. | 1989 |
| Guinn | Kenny | 1988 |
| Guisti | Marshall A. | 1995 |
| Hafen | Kent (Tim) | 2004 |
| Hale | Preston Q. | 1990 |
| Hall, Dr. | Jesse | 2002 |
| Hall, M.D. | Wesley | 1970 |
| Hall-Patton | Mark | 2022 |
| Ham, Jr. | Artemus | 1979 |
| Hardesty | Justice (Ret.) James W. | 2023 |
| Harmon, Sr. | Harley | 1981 |
| Harrah | William | 1972 |
| Hartle | Kirk | 2018 |
| Hartle** | Rosemarie (Ro) | 2018 |
| Hausch | Mary E. | 2017 |
| Helms | Robert | 1985 |
| Hettrick | Lynn C. | 2008 |
| Hickson | Howard | 1994 |
| Hill | Charlotte | 1987 |
| Hixson | Christina | 1996 |
| Hoggard | Mabel | 1977 |
| Hollister | Joyce | 1999 |
| Hood, M.D. | Thomas K. | 1990 |
| Horn | Roy (& Siegfried Fischbacher) | 2004 |
| Housells, Sr. | J. K. | 1967 |
| Howard | Claude I. | 1979 |
| Huber | Albert H. | 1998 |
| Hug, Jr. | Procter | 1982 |
| Hughes | Mary “Mitzi” | 1993 |
| Huntington | Fritzi | 1991 |
| Hurlburt | Dr. Russell | 2024 |
| Jacobsen | Harold | 1980 |
| Jamason | Cherie | 2010 |
| James | Bruce R. | 2013 |
| Jameson | Florence and Gard | 2015 |
| Jones | Clarence | 1977 |
| Jones Blackhurst | Jan | 2021 |
| Jones Cahlan | Florence Lee | 1986 |
| Joyce | James A. | 1993 |
| Keller | Jerry | 2005 |
| Kinnaird | Michael | 2004 |
| Kneiss | Gilbert H. | 1959 |
| Knisley | Raymond | 1967 |
| Knudsen | K. O. | 1962 |
| Knudtsen | Molly | 1994 |
| Kohn, Esq. | Philip J. | 2007 |
| Lanni | J. Terrence | 2002 |
| Lattin | Ralph W. | 1964 |
| Lawlor | Glenn J. | 1980 |
| Laxalt | Paul | 1986 |
| Laxalt | Robert | 1984 |
| Lee | Keith L. | 2014 |
| Leonard | Paul | 1971 |
| Lerude | Warren L. | 2020 |
| Lieberman** | Sam | 2020 |
| List | Governor (Ret.) Robert F. | 2019 |
| Livermore | John | 1997 |
| Lougaris | Ioannis A. “John” | 1987 |
| Lovelock | Forest | 1975 |
| Lundberg** | Melvin Edward | 1981 |
| Lundvall | Pat | 2012 |
| Macdonald | William | 1992 |
| Mack | Luther | 1989 |
| Mackay Hawkins | Katherine | 1965 |
| Marshall | Arthur | 1992 |
| Marston | Edgar J. | 1960 |
| Martie | John | 1970 |
| Martin | William E. | 2003 |
| Martinelli | Ernest | 1988 |
| Marvel | Louise | 1966 |
| McCloskey | Jack | 1969 |
| McCulloch | Frank W. | 2018 |
| McCurdy Sr. | William | 2021 |
| McDonald | Herb | 1986 |
| McElrath | Jean | 1965 |
| McFadden | Monsignor Leo | 1989 |
| McPhail | Harvey F. | 1959 |
| McVeigh | John Joseph | 1990 |
| Melton | Rollan | 1979 |
| Mendoza | John F. | 1986 |
| Merialdo | Peter | 1967 |
| Michelson** | Albert Abraham | 2003 |
| Midby | John H. | 1987 |
| Mikulich | Sebastian | 1970 |
| Miller | Governor Bob | 2012 |
| Miller | Maya | 1981 |
| Miller | Monte L. and Susan J. | 2014 |
| Miller | Sandy | 1998 |
| Mills | Laura | 1968 |
| Moffatt | W. H. | 1960 |
| Molasky | Irwin | 1982 |
| Monroe | Warren L. “Snowy” | 1986 |
| Moran | John | 1985 |
| Morris | William | 1978 |
| Morrison | Edda K. | 1998 |
| Moss, Dr. | Marvin L. | 2001 |
| Mount | Evelyn | 2005 |
| Mueller | John V. | 1962 |
| Mulroy | Patricia | 1999 |
| Myles | Myrtle | 1976 |
| Neal | Joseph M. | 2005 |
| Nelson | Warren L. | 1995 |
| Newton | Wayne | 2001 |
| Nightingale | Jacqueline | 1986 |
| Nightingale | Leon | 1986 |
| O’Brien III, M.D. | William | 1973 |
| O’Callaghan | Governor Mike | 1973 |
| Page | Kevin J. | 2006 |
| Page | Paul C. | 2007 |
| Paher | Stanley | 2012 |
| Pargellis | Stanley | 1958 |
| Paterson Elton | Dorothy Elton | 2000 |
| Patterson | Edna | 1984 |
| Pearson, Dr. | William U. | 2002 |
| Peccole | William | 1978 |
| Pelter | Andrea | 1987 |
| Pennington | Myriam | 1997 |
| Pennington | William | 1997 |
| Perkins | Richard | 1970 |
| Peterson | Anna Lou Call | 2011 |
| Piazzo | Lincoln “Link” | 2010 |
| Picollo | Marvin | 1984 |
| Pine | Edward | 1995 |
| Pittman | Vail | 1960 |
| Pollard | Dr. Anthony L. and Diane | 2015 |
| Porter | Dale | 2007 |
| Prabhu, M.D. | Rachakonda D. | 2012 |
| Quirk | Edward J. (Ted) | 2018 |
| Raggio** | William J. | 2012 |
| Ralenkotter | Rossi | 2009 |
| Rawson | Raymond D. | 2014 |
| Ray | Cathy | 2008 |
| Redd | Marilyn | 1987 |
| Redd | William S. “Si” | 1987 |
| Reed, Jr. | Edward C. | 2011 |
| Reid | U.S. Senator Harry | 2020 |
| Remy | Mildred | 1992 |
| Reynolds | Dan | 2024 |
| Reynolds | Donald W. | 1981 |
| Ribeiro | Johnny | 1988 |
| Roberts | Gerald Austin | 1990 |
| Robinson | Jackie | 2009 |
| Rocha | Guy Louis | 2012 |
| Rodman | C. Kitty | 1991 |
| Rogers | James E. | 2010 |
| Rogich | Sig | 1992 |
| Ronzone | Bertha | 1967 |
| Rose, II | Phillip G. | 1994 |
| Russell | Charles | 1964 |
| Rutherford | Helen | 1997 |
| Ruvo | Camille | 2024 |
| Ruvo | Larry | 2009 |
| Salicchi | Ceasar E. | 2013 |
| Saltman | Michael and Sonja | 2014 |
| Sanchez III, Esq. | Tony F. | 2019 |
| Sandoval | Governor (Ret.) Brian E. | 2019 |
| Sanford | Robert | 1985 |
| Santini | James D. | 2014 |
| Satre | Philip G. | 1989 |
| Saville, Dr. | Anthony | 2001 |
| Savitt | Ella | 1977 |
| Savitt | Sol | 1977 |
| Sawyer** | Grant | 1996 |
| Schaeffer | Glenn | 2004 |
| Schofield, Jr. | Dr. Robert Larson | 2014 |
| Schwartz | Milton | 1999 |
| Scott | A.L. | 1966 |
| Scott | Ed | 2015 |
| Scott | Jesse D. | 1992 |
| Scripps, II | Edward | 1982 |
| Seeliger | Albert | 1973 |
| Segerblom | Gene | 2011 |
| Seitz | Charles | 1959 |
| Serephine, O.P. | Sister M. | 1963 |
| Sestini | Virgil A. | 1992 |
| Settlemeyer | Fred | 1962 |
| Sewell | J. Harvey | 1961 |
| Shamberger | Hugh | 1980 |
| Shearing | Justice (Ret.) Miriam | 2019 |
| Shearing, M.D.** | Steven P. | 2019 |
| Sheerin | Chris | 1960 |
| Shepperson | Wilbur S. | 1991 |
| Silva | Astrid | 2023 |
| Smalley | James E. & Alice Rae | 2002 |
| Smernoff, M.D. | Noah | 1988 |
| Smith | Alfred Merritt | 1964 |
| Smith | Edward Dewayne | 2008 |
| Smith | Fred | 1989 |
| Smith | Linda | 2009 |
| Smith, Jr. | Arthur M. | 1983 |
| Snyder | Donald D. | 2003 |
| Spann | Harriett | 1968 |
| Sparks | Carolyn M. | 2014 |
| Spirtos | Dr. Nicola Michael | 2016 |
| Spitz | Louis P. | 1992 |
| Springmeyer | Sallie | 2001 |
| Stever Daly McMillan | Marie E. | 2006 |
| Stewart | Alden Levi | 2009 |
| Stokes, Dr. | Frank Curry | 2007 |
| Stoldal | Robert | 2020 |
| Stout | Elizabeth W. | 1993 |
| Stout** | Charles H. | 1993 |
| Streeter | Jack | 1999 |
| Sulich | Vassili | 1987 |
| Swackhammer | William | 1987 |
| Tarkanian | Jerry | 2004 |
| Thomas | E. Parry | 1975 |
| Thompson** | Bishop Vincent Lee | 1999 |
| Thornton | Barbara | 1996 |
| Thornton | Clarence | 1982 |
| Tiberti | J. A. | 1985 |
| Tornton | William C. | 1996 |
| Townsend | Sen. Randolph | 2018 |
| Trachok | Fran | 2013 |
| Trachok | Richard "Dick" | 2013 |
| Turner | Alice | 2000 |
| Urza | Dr. Carmelo | 2024 |
| Van Meter Hug | Barbara | 1993 |
| Van Zee | Harold | 1976 |
| Vanda | Charles | 1985 |
| Vassiliadis | William | 2000 |
| Vega | Rafael “Ray” | 1998 |
| Wagner | Sue | 1996 |
| Walker | Tom P. | 1959 |
| Wall Sawyer | Byrd | 1971 |
| Walters | Frank E. (Pete) | 1991 |
| Warner | Eugune R. | 1991 |
| Warran | Wallie | 1978 |
| Weems | Robert | 2004 |
| Westergard | Roland | 1997 |
| Whalman | Harold | 1959 |
| Wheeler | Sessions | 1963 |
| Whipple | Bret O. | 2014 |
| Whipple | Reed | 1969 |
| White | William T. | 1994 |
| Wiener, Jr. | Louis J. | 1993 |
| Williams | Claudine | 1990 |
| Williams | Joe | 1987 |
| Wilson | Woodrow | 1971 |
| Wilson, Sr. | Thomas R.C. | 1981 |
| Winters | Kathleen | 1989 |
| Woitishek | Mary | 1973 |
| Wolzinger | Melvin B. | 1998 |
| Woodard | Bertha S. | 1981 |
| Woodard Moore | Bertha | 1981 |
| Woodburn | William K. | 1986 |
| Woodbury | Bruce L. | 2008 |
| Woodbury | Clare | 1968 |
| Wright | William | 1980 |
| Wynn | Steve and Elaine | 1999 |
| Young | Justice Cliff | 2016 |
| Zive | Judge Gregg W. | 2016 |
| Zucker | Blanche M. | 1992 |
** = posthumously