Our Namesake

Mr. Edmund W. Griffith (commonly known as "Ole E. W."), was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1853. He moved to the United States and became a Naturalized citizen. He moved to Las Vegas in the early 1900's to work for the Union Pacific Railroad and decided to make Las Vegas his permanent home. He married Fletcher Midgley and had one son named Robert E. Griffith.

E. W. Griffith was one of Las Vegas' first merchants; he had the first hardware store in town and also became the very first president of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. In 1917, Mr. Griffith was elected to the State Assembly, and then in 1919 he was elected into the State Senate. From 1922 to 1932, E.W. was on the School Board, serving once as the board's Chairman. Mr. E.W. Griffith passed away on October 31, 1932 leaving a lasting stamp on our city's history and we are very grateful to have his name on our school.

Facts about E.W. Griffith and our school:

• E W used to collect starving "burros" from the desert. He would bring them home feed them and sell them to local farmers at his hardware store.

• E W served in a committee who determined the present boundaries of Clark County.

• In 1909, E W Griffith opened the second Las Vegas Cemetery facility about 1 1/2 miles south of town near the Union Pacific railroad tracks. But because it was so far from where most Las Vegans resided, it closed in December 1909.

• In 1915, E W founded the Mountain Charleston Park resort in Kyle Canyon.

• The Griffith United Methodist Church at 1701 East Oakey Boulevard was named in his honor.

• Our school opened its doors in 1962 with an enrollment of 415 students. There was a ceremony where Robert Griffith, E.W.'s son spoke and many city dignitaries attended. There were photos taken by the newspaper, The Sun News, but a fire at their office years later destroyed them.

• Our school library was the first to be carpeted in the district.