H.P. Fitzgerald Elementary School, 1993
H.P. Fitzgerald Elementary School opened in 1993. It was the first new school built in West Las Vegas in 27 years. H. P. Fitzgerald was the first black principal in Nevada. He came to Las Vegas from Williamsburg, Virginia and began as an art and vocational instructor in 1947. In 1956 he became the first principal of the newly constructed Kit Carson School and served in that position until 1965. In 1966 he became vocational and technical advisor and special program evaluator for the Clark County schools. From 1969 – 1971 he was a member of the Clark County Community College staff and served as an assistant director of the Southern Nevada Manpower Training Center. In 1971 he became area manager of the local Nevada State Employment Security Department and retired December 30, 1976.
In addition to being the first black principal in Nevada, he was the first black person to earn a Master’s degree at the University of Nevada and a vocational education certificate in Nevada. He was the first black person to be issued a general building contractor’s license in Nevada and he was the first black apprenticeship coordinator in Nevada.
He had an impressive history of community activities including youth organizations, PTA, professional groups, United Way, veterans organizations, church work, EOB Board, NAACP, Chamber of Commerce, Opportunity Village, Job Corps, SNDAC, and Red Cross, and Westside Home Improvement Association.
He served as a State Selective Service board member and at present is on the Governor’s Advisory Board for mental health and mental hygiene and the Governor’s Advisory Board for Manpower Training and Career Education and was a member of the Clark County School District Integration Committee.