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. In addition to his school service, Edwards was president and
executive secretary of the Nevada Scholastic League and a member of the
Rotary Club. He also served on the Nevada Public Employees Retirement Board and was 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. He died in 1989 at the age of 82. Elbert B. Edwards Elementary School was opened in 1976 and was dedicated on April 20, 1977 in Edwards' honor. In 2019 the old buildings were demolished. The current building was completed and open in 2020.