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.

2023 Award Recipients

  • Hon. Peter I. Breen
  • Anthony “Nino” Galloway
  • Hon. James W. Hardesty
  • Dr. Susan Desmond-Hellmann
  • Astrid Silva
Last NameFirst NameYear
AcreeBert1963
AdamsEva1963
AdelsonMr. Sheldon & Dr. Miriam2010
AlamoTony2003
AlbrechtFred C.2016
AldenMark2016
AndressDonna Jo1997
Ansari, Drs.Nazir A. & Mary B.2007
AscuagaJohn1987
Avansino, Jr.Raymond C.1992
AyoubAmy S.2016
BaileyWilliam H. "Bob"2013
BaileyAnna L.2013
BaileyJudy1971
Baker KaiserPhyllis Baker1990
BaringWalter1975
BarrickMarjorie A.1982
BarringtonRichard1964
BartlettSelma F.2020
BastaGeorge1983
BastainCyril1968
BatjerCameron M.1992
BatjerMarybel2020
BeamThomas1983
BeattyClara1962
BennaEdna1991
BennaBruno1991
BennettWilliam C.1996
BennettReverend Marion1981
BensonDorothy E.1979
BentlyDonald2002
BerkleyShelley2016
BernardLowell C.1995
BiblePaul A.2015
BibleAlan1974
BigelowRobert T.1995
BilbrayHon. James H.2015
Biltz
Norman1970
BlairMinnie P.1967
BlankinshipReverend Jerome G.1994
BockJoyce Anderson2018
BonnerKittie1977
BoydWilliam1985
BradyBill D.2016
BrantleyJackie2018
BrayMildred1969
BreenJudge (Ret.) Peter I.2023
BrewingtonAnn1981
BroadbentRobert1997
BroadbentNewell1968
BrookmanEileen1982
BrownB. Mahlon1979
BrownNorman1974
BrownMerwyn H.1960
BrownHannah M.2021
Brown**Robert1984
BryanRichard H.2011
Buchanan, II**James “Bucky” L.2010
BuckCarol Franc2022
BunkerRichard1993
BussellJerry2010
ByronDaniel F.1987
CadeJerry1997
CahlanJohn1974
CahlanAlbert E.1966
CalhounJames W.1993
CalhounThelma1978
Cambeiro**Arturo1991
CannonLou1983
CapurroLouis J.1998
CaranoDonald L.2017
CashellRobert A.1988
CashmanJames1972
Cashman, III**James1996
CasonJack1995
CavanaughMargery1985
CavanaughJohn1974
CavigliaCaesar J. (Reverend)2010
CavinDonald2000
CazierHenry H.1962
CherryJustice (Ret.) Michael A.2020
ChristensenCarl J. (Judge – Retired)2012
ChristensenPaul1997
Christensen, M.D.George Norman2019
ClarkDavid W.1994
ClarkDonald M.1985
ClarkeRosemary1984
CliftonGuy2022
CoatesDr. Jay2018
CobbTyrus W.2017
CobbTy1985
CollettDr. Hugh S.2015
CollinsMonsignor Thomas F.1976
CoxWalter1972
CravenThomas1966
Crear**Barbara2018
Crear**Dr. John2018
Crowell**Robert L.2021
Crowley, Dr.Joseph N.2008
CrumleyFrances1975
CuchineWalter2006
DandiniCountess Angela1996
De LongchampsFrederic1966
Dell GuyAddelair1979
DentonRalph L. & Sara P.2007
DeskinRuthe1980
Desmond-HellmannDr. Susan2023
DiandaNorman L.1998
Dixon**Mead1993
DodgeCarl F.1998
DolanThomas S.2020
DonderoThalia1995
Donnelly, Dr.**Charles R.2009
Douglass, Ph.D.William A.2019
DresslerFred1979
DresslerJohn1970
DuncanRuby1998
Eardley, Dr.James2000
Eklund**Lew2021
Eklund**JoAnn2021
EllisRobert P. and Sandra D.2015
ElyJoe1991
Fahrenkopf, Jr.Frank J.1990
FaissRobert D.2013
FastMr. Monte & Mrs. Billie2010
FayleLeonard1970
FeltnerBarbara1984
FerraroGregory Wright2013
FindlayCliff2019
FindlayDonna2019
FischbacherSiegfried  (& Roy Horn)2004
FlangasGus W. "Billy"2015
FlangasWilliam1984
FlemingC.E.1964
FoleyRoger D.1988
Foley. Sr.Roger.1967
FongWing and Lilly1998
FordJean1998
ForsmanFranny2005
FowlerRobert E.2017
FrandsenPeter1958
Franklin, Sr.George1969
FulkersonCharles W.2006
Fulstone, M.D.Mary1964
FultonStanley E.1992
GallagherDorothy S. and Thomas2003
GallagherMorris1996
GallagherCharles D.1961
GallowayAnthony "Nino"2023
GarrettElton M.1977
GarsideFrank F.1961
GarwoodPaul1972
GaughanMichael2008
GayJimmy1988
Ghanem, Dr.Elias F.2001
GianellaVincent1962
GibsonJames1973
Gibson, Jr.Fred D.1985
GlaserNorman D.1988
Glick**Milton D.2011
GojackMary1985
GolbergMichael A. (posthumously)2012
GomesNancy1979
Goodall, Dr.Leonard (Pat) E.2006
GoodmanCarolyn G.1989
GoodmanOscar B.2020
GoolsbyJohn1992
GouletPaul2013
GoynesTheron H. & Naomi D.2011
GragsonOran1977
GrantArchie C.1965
Graves, IIMadison B.2004
GrayLeslie1982
GreenspunBrian1997
GreenspunBarbara1991
Greer White, M.D.Juanita1972
GriffithRobert B.1964
Guild GrayR.1991
Guild, Jr.Clark J.1989
GuinnKenny1988
GuistiMarshall A.1995
HafenKent (Tim)2004
HalePreston Q.1990
Hall, Dr.Jesse2002
Hall, M.D.Wesley1970
Hall-PattonMark2022
Ham, Jr.Artemus1979
HardestyJustice (Ret.) James W.2023
Harmon, Sr.Harley1981
HarrahWilliam1972
HartleKirk2018
Hartle**Rosemarie (Ro)2018
HauschMary E.2017
HelmsRobert1985
HettrickLynn C.2008
HicksonHoward1994
HillCharlotte1987
HixsonChristina1996
HoggardMabel1977
HollisterJoyce1999
Hood, M.D.Thomas K.1990
HornRoy  (& Siegfried Fischbacher)2004
Housells, Sr.J. K.1967
HowardClaude I.1979
HuberAlbert H.1998
Hug, Jr.Procter1982
HughesMary “Mitzi”1993
HuntingtonFritzi1991
JacobsenHarold1980
JamasonCherie2010
JamesBruce R.2013
JamesonFlorence and Gard2015
JonesClarence1977
Jones BlackhurstJan2021
Jones CahlanFlorence Lee1986
JoyceJames A.1993
KellerJerry2005
KinnairdMichael2004
KneissGilbert H.1959
KnisleyRaymond1967
KnudsenK. O.1962
KnudtsenMolly1994
Kohn, Esq.Philip J.2007
LanniJ. Terrence2002
LattinRalph W.1964
LawlorGlenn J.1980
LaxaltPaul1986
LaxaltRobert1984
LeeKeith L.2014
LeonardPaul1971
LerudeWarren L.2020
Lieberman**Sam2020
ListGovernor (Ret.) Robert F.2019
LivermoreJohn1997
LougarisIoannis A. “John”1987
LovelockForest1975
Lundberg**Melvin Edward1981
LundvallPat2012
MacdonaldWilliam1992
MackLuther1989
Mackay HawkinsKatherine1965
MarshallArthur1992
MarstonEdgar J.1960
MartieJohn1970
MartinWilliam E.2003
MartinelliErnest1988
MarvelLouise1966
McCloskeyJack1969
McCullochFrank W.2018
McCurdy Sr.William2021
McDonaldHerb1986
McElrathJean1965
McFaddenMonsignor Leo1989
McPhailHarvey F.1959
McVeighJohn Joseph1990
MeltonRollan1979
MendozaJohn F.1986
MerialdoPeter1967
Michelson**Albert Abraham2003
MidbyJohn H.1987
MikulichSebastian1970
MillerMonte L. and Susan J.2014
MillerGovernor Bob2012
MillerSandy1998
MillerMaya1981
MillsLaura1968
MoffattW. H.1960
MolaskyIrwin1982
MonroeWarren L. “Snowy”1986
MoranJohn1985
MorrisWilliam1978
MorrisonEdda K.1998
Moss, Dr.Marvin L.2001
MountEvelyn2005
MuellerJohn V.1962
MulroyPatricia1999
MylesMyrtle1976
NealJoseph M.2005
NelsonWarren L.1995
NewtonWayne2001
NightingaleLeon1986
NightingaleJacqueline1986
O’Brien III, M.D.William1973
O’CallaghanGovernor Mike1973
PagePaul C.2007
PageKevin J.2006
PaherStanley2012
PargellisStanley1958
Paterson EltonDorothy Elton2000
PattersonEdna1984
Pearson, Dr.William U.2002
PeccoleWilliam1978
PelterAndrea1987
PenningtonWilliam1997
PenningtonMyriam1997
PerkinsRichard1970
PetersonAnna Lou Call2011
PiazzoLincoln “Link”2010
PicolloMarvin1984
PineEdward1995
PittmanVail1960
PollardDr. Anthony L. and Diane2015
PorterDale2007
Prabhu, M.D.Rachakonda D.2012
QuirkEdward J. (Ted)2018
Raggio**William J.2012
RalenkotterRossi2009
RawsonRaymond D.2014
RayCathy2008
ReddWilliam S. “Si”1987
ReddMarilyn1987
Reed, Jr.Edward C.2011
ReidU.S. Senator Harry2020
RemyMildred1992
ReynoldsDonald W.1981
RibeiroJohnny1988
RobertsGerald Austin1990
RobinsonJackie2009
RochaGuy Louis2012
RodmanC. Kitty1991
RogersJames E.2010
RogichSig1992
RonzoneBertha1967
Rose, IIPhillip G.1994
RussellCharles1964
RutherfordHelen1997
RuvoLarry2009
SalicchiCeasar E.2013
SaltmanMichael and Sonja2014
Sanchez III, Esq.Tony F.2019
SandovalGovernor (Ret.) Brian E.2019
SanfordRobert1985
SantiniJames D.2014
SatrePhilip G.1989
Saville, Dr.Anthony2001
SavittElla1977
SavittSol1977
Sawyer**Grant1996
SchaefferGlenn2004
Schofield, Jr.Dr. Robert Larson2014
SchwartzMilton1999
ScottEd2015
ScottJesse D.1992
ScottA.L.1966
Scripps, IIEdward1982
SeeligerAlbert1973
SegerblomGene2011
SeitzCharles1959
Serephine, O.P.Sister M.1963
SestiniVirgil A.1992
SettlemeyerFred1962
SewellJ. Harvey1961
ShambergerHugh1980
ShearingJustice (Ret.) Miriam2019
Shearing, M.D.**Steven P.2019
SheerinChris1960
SheppersonWilbur S.1991
SilvaAstrid2023
SmalleyJames E. & Alice Rae2002
Smernoff, M.D.Noah1988
SmithLinda2009
SmithEdward Dewayne2008
SmithFred1989
SmithAlfred Merritt1964
Smith, Jr.Arthur M.1983
SnyderDonald D.2003
SpannHarriett1968
SparksCarolyn M.2014
SpirtosDr. Nicola Michael2016
SpitzLouis P.1992
SpringmeyerSallie2001
Stever Daly McMillanMarie E.2006
StewartAlden Levi2009
Stokes, Dr.Frank Curry2007
StoldalRobert2020
StoutElizabeth W.1993
Stout**Charles H.1993
StreeterJack1999
SulichVassili1987
SwackhammerWilliam1987
TarkanianJerry2004
ThomasE. Parry1975
Thompson**Bishop Vincent Lee1999
ThorntonBarbara1996
ThorntonClarence1982
TibertiJ. A.1985
TorntonWilliam C.1996
TownsendSen. Randolph2018
TrachokFran2013
TrachokRichard "Dick"2013
TurnerAlice2000
Van Meter HugBarbara1993
Van ZeeHarold1976
VandaCharles1985
VassiliadisWilliam2000
VegaRafael “Ray”1998
WagnerSue1996
WalkerTom P.1959
Wall SawyerByrd1971
WaltersFrank E. (Pete)1991
WarnerEugune R.1991
WarranWallie1978
WeemsRobert2004
WestergardRoland1997
WhalmanHarold1959
WheelerSessions1963
WhippleBret O.2014
WhippleReed1969
WhiteWilliam T.1994
Wiener, Jr.Louis J.1993
WilliamsClaudine1990
WilliamsJoe1987
WilsonWoodrow1971
Wilson, Sr.Thomas R.C.1981
WintersKathleen1989
WoitishekMary1973
WolzingerMelvin B.1998
WoodardBertha S.1981
Woodard MooreBertha1981
WoodburnWilliam K.1986
WoodburyBruce L.2008
WoodburyClare1968
WrightWilliam1980
WynnSteve and Elaine1999
YoungJustice Cliff2016
ZiveJudge Gregg W.2016
ZuckerBlanche M.1992

** = posthumously