We have named our cities for some of the inspirational women in the American Legion Auxiliary and for some of our Nevada women who were, or are, active in politics and are role models for all.

GERALDINE CONNOLLY CITY is named for our past Nevada Girls State Director. Mrs. Connolly was the Director for more than 30 years. She was on the Board of Directors since 1965. Mrs. Connolly passed away in 2008 leaving Nevada Girls State as her legacy. She has left us with some big shoes to fill. We will do our best to honor her.

SUE WAGNER CITY is named for the former Lieutenant Governor of the State of Nevada and was the first woman to hold this office in Nevada. She served in the Assembly and in the Senate before becoming Lt. Governor. She spoke to the Nevada Girls State citizens each year for 21 years, and is dedicated to the program. She attended Girls State in Arizona.

BARBARA BUCKLEY CITY is named for the immediate-past Speaker of the Assembly, who is also the first woman to hold this position in the State of Nevada. Prior to becoming the Speaker, she served in the Assembly before serving as Assistant Majority Floor Leader. She was also the first woman to hold the position of Assembly Majority Leader for the Nevada State Legislature.

SADIE HURST CITY is named for the first woman to be elected to the Nevada Assembly, represnting Washoe County. During her time in office, Mrs. Hurst sponsored many bills ranging in subject from cruelty to animals to women’s suffrage. In recognition of the historical nature of the decision and since she was the first woman elected to serve in the Nevada legislature (and the only woman serving at the time), when it came time for Nevada to ratify the 19th Amendment, she presided over the Assembly’s vote. She died in Calfornia at the age of 94.

FRANKIE SUE DEL PAPA CITY is named for the first female Attorney General and first female Secretary of State for the State of Nevada. In addition to these positions, she also served on the University Board of Regents and she has been a public servant for most of her adult life. Frankie Sue Del Papa is also an alumna of Nevada Girls State.

SARAH WINNEMUCCA CITY is named for a Paiute leader who spent her adult life working for the rights of her people, twice meeting with the President of the United States. She also served as a guide and interpreter for those exploring the American West.

 

The counties of Nevada Girls State are usually named in honor of Department Presidents of the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Nevada. This year, one county will be named in honor of a female first for Nevada. We have two counties, each consisting of an equal number of citizens, and they are named for:

Ms. Glynis Seeley from Las Vegas who is our current Department President. She has been a dedicated member of the American Legion Auxiliary for seven years, working hard to serve our veterans and their families. She is currently a member of ALA Las Vegas Unit 8 and she and her husband, Ed, are members of the Legion Riders. Ms. Seeley was first elected as ALA Department President for Nevada in 2012 and recently was releected to this position for a second term.

Ms. Barbara Vucanovich who was the first woman to represent Nevada in the U.S. Congress, serving seven terms. She launched her first political campaign in 1982 at the age of 61 and was elected to represent the newly-created 2nd Congressional District, which covered all Nevada outside of Las Vegas. Prior to her election, she had spent decades as a Republican volunteer and ran U.S Senator Paul Laxalt’s office. After her retirement, she remained a political force in Nevada and any Republican candidate sought and touted her endorsement. Ms. Vucanovich passed away in early June.