Fall 2007
A Half Century of Rebels
"No other undertaking so typifies Nevada spirit as the birth and growth of Nevada Southern. It was the same dedication, the same defiance of opposition, and the same unity of purpose that overcame the challenges of man and nature to bring Nevada to statehood in 1864."
Those words were spoken by Gov. Grant Sawyer on June 3, 1964, at the first commencement of what was then called Nevada Southern University. The former university regent marveled at the campus' growing student body and six buildings among the "sand and sagebrush." He predicted that UNLV would "emerge as one of the outstanding educational centers of the great Southwest, an area marked as the coming dominant force in the new America." Today, as the university celebrates its 50th anniversary, there is much evidence that his prophecy came true. Take a look back at the moments that defined UNLV as it rose from a dusty outpost to become the state's largest university.
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What's Missing?
Assembling a timeline in just 10 pages is a tall task. Tell us about the milestones and moments you remember. E-mail us at magazine@unlv.edu.