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Veteran's Affairs Plus discusses the issues that veterans in Las Vegas deal with on a daily basis. Your host, David L. Washington connects listeners with relevant community resources and information that they need to help veterans or themselves.
Wesley Knight 0:00
This is a KU NV studios original program. You're listening to special programming sponsored by making moves, life coaching services. The content of this program does not reflect the views or opinions of 91.5 jazz and more the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education. You
Music 0:35
Come on, tell
Music 0:42
me what's going on. Good
Dave Washington 0:48
day Las Vegas. Good day Las Vegas. This is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. I have a few statements to make, and then I'll have our guests to introduce themselves. We have former attorney, City Attorney, brian scott, good guy. He's been on the show before. And also we have Dr Rogers. We will even corral him, hit him on the show. I've been trying to get several other folks, because we're going to talk about the legacy of William Bill. That's doc Sullivan. What a great guy. And these gentlemen have been doing some outstanding work, his legacy a lot. And we were also going to have his wife on. She's very, very busy. To include a couple of meetings that she has to attend, but we'll get her on at some point as well. There's a lot of work, I believe, has to be done to ensure that we can keep his work alive and well, because these guys will explain some of the things that they were able to get out of the program, the upper bound program. So before they introduce themselves, let me say this this weekend. Well, last weekend, I played at a golf tournament, the Armstrong family golf tournament. It's their foundation. I go in there, gentlemen, Doc and and Brian, attorney, sir, I go in there. Adam built me a team, right? And I'm walking up expecting a scrap they say, Chief, we know how y'all go and buy these teams. They say, it's individual scoring. I'm like, what
Brian Scott 2:07
we're prepared for that one.
Dave Washington 2:09
But guess what? The guy that I brought for our team, he won the overall. Oh, he worked, but they got a ringer, but we didn't get anything. The rest of us anyway.
Keith Rogers 2:20
No, whenever I go to those tournaments and play, I'm like, it's got to be a team effort Exactly, exactly
Dave Washington 2:25
so anyway. But we hope that folks will support that in coming years, because what they do is they give scholarships to a number of young folks throughout our county. And then I attended a retirees we have a Southwest retirees event annually, and we play golf, we have meals. We were down in Palm Springs Rancho. Mirage has passed, and from there, I went to San Diego to pick up my granddaughter. We had promised her a trip home to her little sister's birthday. So it's been a world and then after that, a dear friend, his 80th birthday party was Sunday, so we flew right out of here, my wife and Doc, I already told the attorney couldn't find my dog going past crazy man, but I did find it. But anyway, let me say this condolence to all those who have had losses of life over the past few days and weeks and certainly look forward to continued ceasefire things happening. It's just a bunch of madness that goes on. And I know that Jason always does his disclaimer, Doc, so don't get worried about anything that crazy Dave might say, but it's me. I don't represent the university. But with that, I like to introduce two guys who are phenomenal in terms of carrying the banner for the Upward Bound program and other programs that came from that program. So attorney Scott, will you give that? Give some background to our listening audience, on you, my friend, and then doc will come to you.
Brian Scott 3:52
I can do that. Thank you, Chief for inviting me here to talk about Dr Sullivan. So I met Dr Sullivan in my 10th grade year at I was attending Rancho High School. I was a summer youth employment student working in the Dora the humanities building, ran into some Upward Bound students. I'm like, Who are you guys? And they told me about the upper bound program, talked my mother into signing me up, and that was the best thing that's ever happened to me. So from there, I was a very shy student, as in high school, the upper bound program was like another family. We had 50 kids that were in similar background situations that I was in, single mother households, that kind of thing, getting free lunch for school, that kind of stuff. And it really kind of brought me out of my shell. And what year was it? So the 10th grade of high school was 1982 so I'm dating myself there. But it went on to working for the Department counseling at psych through through Upward Bound. Had that job for four years during here at UNLV as a research assistant and often an office aide. Then went on to law school at Lewis and Clark. Law School in Portland, Oregon in 1988 to 1991 since that point in time, I recently retired after 32 years of practicing law. I was the first African American city attorney for the city of Las Vegas. I was the first African American president of the State Bar in Nevada. I was the first African American president of the Clark County Bar Association. I was first African American president of the Clark County Law Foundation. And then I was Foundation, and then I was president of the Las Vegas chapter of the National Bar Association, and had a really great career for 32 years. I just celebrated my 34th year of being sworn into the State Bar Nevada. That was in October 11 of 1991 I was sworn in as an attorney, and really enjoyed that career for for quite a long time.
Dave Washington 5:42
Dr Rogers, before you speak, let me say this that I said to Brian about we have a men's only luncheon that men of all ethnic background, etc. And he got up and talked about him being the first black city attorney. But he also added to that, and I told him I was very proud, because sometimes we we know that people will get in the position and beat on their chest. I'm the first. Well, what are you gonna do? And when he started talking about, he got women here and blacks there, I'm like, Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. We shouldn't be going into these positions and just beating on our chest because we're the one, yeah.
Brian Scott 6:12
And I got that from Dr Sullivan. I mean, Dr Sullivan's motto was, You, you, you are uplifted by uplifting others. And so when I when I became city attorney in 2020 after the old city attorney was there for 28 years, I was the only attorney of color out of 25 attorneys. And I was leading the office. We had no female attorneys in the civil division, and I didn't think that our office reflected the dynamics of our city. And so in the three years that I was city attorney, and I left my own accord. I was ready to retire at that point after 32 years of government service, but I had four women in the civil division as attorneys. To them were women of color. I managed to steal from the City of Henderson, steal from a private practice, and pick the best and brightest of those people that I could find. And it was, really was a night, and also the Criminal Division managed to diversify it, not only with that, but I promoted the first LGBTQ assistant city attorney over the Criminal Division and the first woman in the over the criminal division as well.
Dave Washington 7:16
Dr Rogers, give us some listening audience, if you will, a little bit of background on you, please, sir.
Keith Rogers 7:21
Of course, I first want to say chief, thank you for inviting me to be a guest on the show. I know it took a while, but I appreciate you not giving up, not giving up on a brother and so and so. Here we are. So thank you again for the for just, you know, wanting to do this story on Dr song, because he meant so much to so many of us. And I'm just thankful that Brian and I get to represent the hundreds of 1000s of students that have benefited from his vision of providing access to college among you know, talented, low income, first generation families all across the state of Nevada. And so I'm not from Nevada. I actually grew up in Missouri, but I was in the military. I was in the US Army, and I had my brother was stationed here in Las Vegas at Nellis Air Force Base. And so he convinced me to relocate to Las Vegas when I was coming off active duty. And when I did, I say I was ready to go to college. And so he said, Yeah, why don't you come to Univ? And I'm thinking, you and IV to run in Rebels. Yes, that works. I can do that. And so I came out to Las Vegas, and I had no idea about college or what to do, and I and I just popped up on campus one day, and I went to an office, and I said, Hey, I'm looking to talk to someone about enrolling in at UNLV. And then they said, Hey, you should go and see Dr Sullivan. And I say, Dr Sullivan, who is Dr Sullivan. And they said, Yeah, he runs these TRIO programs, and they're fantastic, and he's the person to go talk to. And so they pointed me down the way, and I walked down to his office, and I waited for him patiently, and he you know, he had a, he had a, you can imagine how busy he is. He had just a long schedule of meetings, but you know, he did find time to see me, and he just told me one thing. He said, Keep I'm going to take care of you, and you just do what I tell you to do, and you're going to be successful. And I said, Yes, sir. So Dr, Sullivan,
Dave Washington 9:16
so Dr, Roger, how were you? Then you said you had just gotten out of the middle
Keith Rogers 9:21
was then, yes, that was in 1995 I was 23 years old in 1995
Dave Washington 9:28
well, so use one, so you was one of the older ducklings, huh? Or whatever.
Keith Rogers 9:34
Yes, I was, yes, I was, I was, you know, I was, I was fully, I was fully baked in age, but, but, but, I had no clue about the college, the College going experience, and that was in 1995 and so at that moment, Dr Sullivan did ask me. He was like, Hey, do you have a job? Do you have this? And I was like, No, no sir. No sir, no sir. Okay, we're gonna, I'm gonna hire you as a student worker, and then I'm gonna also enroll you in. Our student program, you're going to be a participant in the program. And I know Brian talked a lot about Upward Bound, but at that time, we also had a program called Student Support Services that was the equivalent, that was the equivalent program for students who are in college, with students for services. So I was in Student Support Services Program, and so dr Sullivan hired me as a student employee, and I was a participant in program, and that's how my journey started with Dr Sullivan in the university. Wow.
Dave Washington 10:29
That is, that is something, because, you know, my assumption, again, is, they say assumptions, or something, I assume, you know, when I heard, when you guys spoke at his services, that you had been around Las Vegas like, like a Brian, you know, been around here, and here you are coming in here as a grown man.
Brian Scott 10:47
But that was true to Doc, 30 years, 30 years, 30 years later, 30 years later.
Keith Rogers 10:55
And the beauty of and chief, the beauty of Dr Sullivan, all the stuff I said it happened in the same day, right? I went to the office, waited for him to be free to meet with me. He enrolled me in the program and gave me a job on the same day in the same meeting, and set my course.
Brian Scott 11:15
Yeah, and it's amazing, whatever he said he would do, he did, right? He was never a person who would give you kind of like blow smoke, right? He was a person that actually fulfilled the things that he said he was going to
Dave Washington 11:27
do. So, so again, this is for the purpose of our listening audience. Why did you decide to make a Bryant major contribution to the foundation?
Brian Scott 11:36
So, as the chief was talking about, I changed my will and my trust to reflect a legacy gift to the Dr William W and Cherie B Sullivan Family Scholarship for $100,000 so I told them they don't get the money till I'm gone. But I did at Mrs. Sullivan's birthday a couple weeks ago, did donate $2,500 toward the scholarship fund, and I will continue to do that as long as I'm living and will donate going
Dave Washington 12:07
forward. And let me say this, you know, had she been able to be on, I was going to talk about that, because to turn your 75th into a fundraiser to continue the legacy through a foundation of your man, that's pretty doggone cool, that
Brian Scott 12:20
was my idea. So she really didn't want to do it, but she just thought it would be a little, you know, it worked out so
Keith Rogers 12:28
well. No, man, because of what it did, it did indeed go, yeah, go ahead. No. I said, Yeah. That was a great that was a great call. And it turned out phenomenal, yeah,
Dave Washington 12:38
because this man had done so much, man, you know, because I know, I know young folks, they don't have they don't have problems throwing a party. And say you pay to come in, no, but at high as you go, so guess what? Yeah, I'll be turning 75 in March. Dr Rogers, I'm already playing this and I was telling Mrs.
Brian Scott 12:58
Sullivan, why not kill two birds with one stone, and while you have the people there that loved him and you, and this is for your Family Scholarship, which goes toward the Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach, why not donate the money there so that they can give scholarship to deserving students like we were, or even adults like Dr Rogers was, and to help them to get to where we are now. And I and she agreed with that, and it was a phenomenal success. A lot of her friends, Mrs. Sullivan is trying to get rid of stuff. She's not trying to gain more things. What do you get? What do you give to her? And so it was, it was really, I think, touching for her to have her husband remembered in such a meaningful right?
Dave Washington 13:40
Well, this is Veterans Affairs, jazz and more. We have Dr Rogers, who's trying to get in. Go ahead, Dave,
Keith Rogers 13:47
no, and I'll say Brian made a important distinction, right? And that's why, in my remarks, I really talked about, you know, Dr Sullivan's success and his impact across all of us really could not have happened without having Sheree. Sheree was there right alongside of him, you know, in the residence halls. You know, they were married over the summer. So whenever you had the residence hall activities in the summer, they were celebrating their anniversary on a trip,
Brian Scott 14:14
living on campus with a bunch of kids that weren't there. 1,000%
Keith Rogers 14:19
agree. And so she made a lot of sacrifices, and she really was the mom to all of us. And I made the reference that, you know, I looked at Dr Sullivan and Miss Sullivan as sort of the Huxtables who I could touch and talk to, right, right? And many of us didn't have come from two parent homes, and so they exemplified what we wanted to have in a family and a mother and a father, and they sold into us like we were their kids. Yes, and you know, I always say, you know, Dr Sullivan wasn't just my supervisor, but Dr Sullivan was also my mentor. He was a father figure. He was a he was a great friend. He was a colleague. So he, he served. He has so many hats with me and with many of us, like Brian. Mm. Um, to not just help and support us while we were going through our college experience, but also when we were growing into young men and husbands and fathers and, you know, all those things, going through losses and career changes. You know, Dr Sullivan was there answering that phone, talking to us to one in the morning, two in the morning. And so I don't know when he had the energy to do all that, because he also was running a multi million dollar organization helping these students
Brian Scott 15:28
succeed, and Dr Rogers is correct. I mean, even when I was an attorney for 20 some years and had an issue whether I wanted to change careers or do something this and that, I called doc, and he was always available to talk to us, and he knew that we knew the answer already, but he just wanted to make sure that we could that, that we knew that we could do whatever we wanted to do, and that we knew that we were doing the right thing. And so even, you know, at the end of his life, when I was in the hospital with him, he was still giving me advice. I had just retired. At that point in time, he was so happy for me to have retired and the career I had had. And he was so proud of me that I was able to help him at that point, because I had some he wanted to go to a different hospital and that, and he just couldn't get through. And I made a few phone calls, and it got and happened. He was so impressed by that, and I was impressed that he was impressed by what I had done. I'm like, going, this is nothing compared what you've done for me and my career. I'd never would have been the person I am in the career I've had, but for his, his intervention and his and his help in doing that. So yeah, he was 1,000% agree.
Dave Washington 16:34
I agree as well, a very solid guy. I spoke several times, but you guys were older men by the but I did speak at the program a couple different times at his request, because he just thought it was important for for people in various professions to come before these students, and you know, they they could see light at the end of the tunnel of, you know, various careers. Yeah. So, so, Dr Rogers, you kind of touched on it, but give us more as to why you feel it's important to keep this legacy of Dr Sullivan Absolutely.
Keith Rogers 17:06
And you know, I may have one of the unique experiences from all the other students who came through the program. Because, you know, after I graduated from college, Dr Sullivan gave me a job as a professional employee, so my first professional job. So, so I had the unique experience of, you know, going into my professional career, under his tutelage. And he really, you know, helped prepare me for success in my career. And Dr Sullivan always talked about, you know, the importance of continuing to invest in your education, continue to invest in education. So he told me, Hey, you finished your undergrad degree, but you're not done, right? Not done. So he was like, You got to go back and get your master's degree. So I went back and I got my MBA in finance. And then after I finished my MBA, he said, you know, you still not done, you still not done. And you know, he said, You got to go back and get your doctorate. You got to go back and get your doctorate. And it took him some time to wear me down on to that idea, but, but the one thing he always talked about was legacy, legacy, legacy, and Dr Sullivan and I worked together for nearly 30 years. Nearly 30 years, I worked with Dr Sullivan well. And, you know, through the through those decades, you know, we he really helped me develop a strong heart and understanding the importance of legacy. Understanding the importance is what Brian said about, you know. And I talked about a quote that Dr Sullivan always mentioned, and it was at the it was at the it was, it was the footer of his email and his signature block, and it said, we're only as good as the doors we open for others. That's right. And that's kind of what Brian no matter, let me Yeah, no matter how, no matter how big we grew as an organization, Dr Sullivan's the same Dr Sullivan that brought Brian into the program, the same Dr Sullivan that hired me on the spot as a student enrolled in the program with the same Dr Sullivan, 30 years later, and he and he was the same, right about helping. And he always, no matter how old we were, Brian, he always called us
Brian Scott 19:09
his baby, his baby.
Dave Washington 19:10
That's it. Look, gentlemen, always his baby, right? Look, gentlemen, we got his widow, Miss ree Sullivan, on the line now, Cherie, how are you doing? And let me say this, we've been talking about you and how committed you were to and as Dr Rogers said, there was no programs without you being invited at Dr Sullivan's side. So we are pleased that you were able to join us and and we talked a little bit about the party that you got voluntold by Brian, that you should do, and it's our study. In fact. Sheree, I just want you to know I was taking notes, because I'll be turning 75 at March, and I'm in a rock and roll. Cherie, would you just give a little bit of background on yourself, please, and then to our listening audience, if you would. And I will study talking as my engineer and producer. Rector was telling me she's on the line, and I'm saying, I'm speaking into the mic, and I'm like, I shouldn't be saying anything, because they don't know. They don't hear you guys don't hear him. But I did go ahead.
Sherri Sullivan 20:09
Sheree, well, thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my story about Bill.
Sherri Sullivan 20:19
He was one of a kind. He was one in a million. In fact, I played that song at our wedding reception, and so I learned glam. And he said, What is that about? I said, one in a million. You never heard that. And he said, No. I said, Well, you're one in a million, Bill, and that was from the beginning right on. But my background, I came here in 1973 I was recruited as a teacher, and I didn't like Las Vegas, but I said, I'll do the best, and I had wonderful mentors that encouraged me to stay here, get vested, have a pension. And I said, okay, okay, I'll do that. And then I decided I had wanted to be a flight attendant when I was 20, with my parents. Said, no, no, no, you wait until you get your degree. So I get the degree, I fast forward, I get recruited, and come here. And so I quit the district and I became a flight attendant. So that was my goal, to move up. I already had my degree and everything, and I was going to move up into corporate. So it's just so happened, another flight attendant wanted to go to the car wash. This was in April of 1979 if Bill were here, he could tell you the date it was, and that's when I met him. He had just started his program, Upward Bound. He came here in 1978 and he was still recruiting for students. So he saw the other lady and myself there, and he's thinking, Well, why aren't you in school? And I'm looking at him like, wait a minute, my degree, I graduated. I'm now flight attendant. He said, Oh. He said, then a light bulb went on. I said, Oh, okay, so we exchanged numbers, and I was gone quite a bit, because I wasn't based I was based here, but they send me other basis. So hard time catching up with me. So one day he caught up with me, and we started, you know, talking and dating, and he said, Oh, I'm gonna marry you. And, no, you haven't even asked me. You're the one. You're the one I already know. And what? First, never asked me. Fast forward. We had married August 3 of 1980 in the Bay Area, and he had to come back because he had started the Upward Bound program. And there are a lot of you know factors he had to get all done before that summer program started in 1981 so started 1981 he had 300 students, and he continued to recruit students after students after students. Tracy cotton was probably the first of that class and 1981 or 82 and he just said, We got to help these kids. We got to help these kids. So we kept on, kept writing grants, and we kept working together, one grant after another, and that's how we started, really hard because he was determined. He said, I'm going to be a success. I'm going to be going to be a successful. Just wait. You'll see Sheree. So fast forward. We now this. Now this. You want to know about the party, right? This was okay. Well, initially I was not going to have a party, but my hairdresser said, Oh, no, you're turning 75 you need a party? I said, No, no, I don't say yes, you do. I know they I know caterer. So I said, okay, and we had the party at one place, but it grew and grew and grew to us. And then, of course, Brian Scott is in my ear all the time. You should make it where to be a funeral? I said no, and he said, in lieu of gifts, if you would like to donate to the scholarship. And I said, Oh. I said, Well, Brian, I don't want to ask if. He said, No. Instead of bringing gifts, if they want to, they don't have to, right? So that's why I turned in to be in that because Brian in my ear, no, no, no, you do it this way. And I had no intentions of it being a fundraiser. I just wanted to have a birthday party. You know what?
Dave Washington 24:25
Sheree, and once again, this is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. I have Dr Rogers, attorney Scott and Miss Cherie Sullivan, who didn't want to have she was voluntold by Brown. You should do that. And you know what? As I, as I mentioned to them before you came on air, she read that I'll be turning 75 again in March, and I'm doing something along those lines. It is perfect, and I agree 100% because when you have the legacy that you and your husband both have, because you know me and Marsha have known you guys for years. And you've always had that team effort going. So why not raise some money? Y'all have done so much for so many young people that it's the right thing to do, because otherwise you're just laying down right. And I think Bill would be highly upset. Don't lay down. Let's keep this thing rolling. So
Brian Scott 25:16
Dr Sullivan is all about efficiency. He's like, Why do something twice when you could do it once really well. And so I told her. I said, it's not only his legacy, but your legacy as well, because you were a part of this whole program and helping us as well.
Dave Washington 25:30
So once again Veterans Affairs plus, and again Brian sitting up here smiling because he pushed and he shoved. There's some of them juices from Bill. You know, Hey, man, don't be laying down, right, right? What you got to say about that? Dr, Rogers, can't be laying down. And you was an older man when you came through the program. Yes, yeah, I'm saying yes, but, but yes, that he pushed you right to continue on.
Keith Rogers 25:56
Oh, yes, absolutely he. Dr, you know that Sullivan, you know, always talk about, you know, we always say we're bound, but he live like upward mobility, always investing in yourself, always striving for the next thing, and then always set an example for those coming behind you. And so you can never rest on your own laurels. You always have to be putting in work. Put it in work.
Brian Scott 26:20
And it's amazing the number of successes that have come out of that program, not only Dr Rogers, but I mean, we have teachers, doctors, both PhD and medical doctors, lawyers, university professor, entrepreneurs, police. I mean, anything in every profession that you can think of, Upward Bound trio or gear up. Students are doing it now, and it's just amazing that the impact, and Dr Rogers talked at Mrs. Sullivan's party about the hundreds of 1000s of students that were helped by the program. But I think it's more than that, because you got to consider these, these people that were in the program then became parents, or they were influencers or other people. So the program not only touched that 100,000 that it touched, but it touched more people because those people then pursued education and were mentors and mentoring and that kind of thing. So it could have been millions of people based upon the fact that you made put planted that seed for 100,000 right? That turned into what it did, absolutely.
Keith Rogers 27:17
Well, yeah, one of the things that we're really proud of, I'll say this in closing, I know we got time, but one of the things that we did when Dr, right before Dr Sullivan retired, we really talked about legacy and, you know, the Center for Academic, rich and outreach, and we talked about Dr seller, we're going to, we're going to get this named after you. And he was like, what never and so we were successful. You know, it took us two years to get it done, but we were able to rename the center the Dr William W Sullivan Center for Academic Enrichment outreach. So it will forever. He will forever have that living legacy here through that center that's named after him. So every student that goes through will be recognized as being a student in that center.
Dave Washington 27:59
You got a couple words, and then we're going to close this out and hold you guys over for just a few minutes for the next show
Sherri Sullivan 28:06
and and everything that Dr Rogers and Brian Scott, they're like I said, they're both in my ear, and I appreciate it so much. But Bill cared so much about so many people. He put other people before himself because he was that type of person, and I was, I was so grateful we were married 43 years, and miss him everything. But I know his legacy will continue. I will be sure of that, and I know Brian and everyone else will help me continue. All right, thank you for the time,
Dave Washington 28:37
sure. All right. Las Vegas, this is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. I've asked these three individuals to stay over so they'll be the lead in the next show. So we'll have another 1012, minutes with them to talk about, where do we go and what can we do? I'm talking about community now. I don't learn. I don't been around there people. I'm like, Brian, I'm gonna be in Dr Roger. I'm gonna push you a little bit. Let's make this happen with that? This is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5 jazz and more. We'll talk to you next week.
Music 29:37
Hey, all the smoke in the air, feel the hate when they stare, all the pain that we bear.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai