The University of Nevada Oral History Program has published two booklets dealing with gambling in Nevada, written by two men who know their subject from first-hand experience. Both were employed by the state in the early days of gaming (not gambling, thank you) regulation.
Both are published in the question and answer format, which fits the project quite naturally.
"Gaming Regulation in Nevada, the Second Sawyer Administration," was written by Appeal columnist Guy Farmer, "Gaming Regulation and Gaming Law in Nevada," by attorney Robert D. Faiss.
Faiss began as a journalist but joined as public information with the Nevada Employment Security Office in 1959. He later became assistant executive secretary of the Nevada Gaming Commission, where he wrote the first state book on gaming control. Gov. Grant Sawyer brought him into the governor's office in 1963 as an executive assistant where he was a top aide for many years.
He is now with the Las Vegas law firm of Lionel, Sawyer & Collins.
Farmer was appointed public information officer for the Nevada Gaming Commission and Gaming Control Board in 1963.
During Farmer's time he was asked by then board chairman Ed Olsen to listen to a phone call made by Frank Sinatra to Olsen. The conversation became a legend in the gaming industry, and Farmer comments on it in the booklet.
The two booklets will be officially unveiled at a book signing and reception Tuesday at the Nevada Appeal offices, 580 Mallory Way from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
No price is listed for the books published by the oral history program. The Farmer booklet has 54 pages, Faiss' booklet has 80 pages.
• Contact Sam Bauman at sbauman@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1236.