Vail M. Pittman, the nineteenth governor of Nevada, was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi on September 17, 1883. His education was attained at the University of South Dakota, and later he attended a business college in Missouri. Pittman established a successful publishing career, eventually becoming the owner and editor of several newspapers. He first entered politics as a member of the Nevada State Senate, a position he held from 1925 to 1929. He also served as the lieutenant governor of Nevada from 1942 to 1945. On July 24, 1945, Governor Edward P. Carville resigned from office, and Pittman, who was the lieutenant governor at the time, assumed the duties of the governorship. He was elected to a term of his own in 1946. During his tenure, the state became the nation’s leading producer of tungsten; and the development of the Las Vegas strip continued to increase. After running unsuccessfully for reelection, Pittman left office on January 1, 1951. He continued to stay politically active, serving as a member of the 1960 Democratic National Committee. Governor Vail M. Pittman passed away on January 29, 1964, and was buried in the Masonic Memorial Gardens in Reno, Nevada.

 

-National Governor's Association