Grant Sawyer
Nevada’s 21st state governor
The Nevada Gaming Commission was established during his administration. He also supported civil-rights and desegregation efforts and a state human-rights commission. Those parallel histories belong beside the casino expansion story.
Before the governor’s office
Sawyer was an Elko district attorney before his election as governor. His career moved from county law practice to the regulation of a growing resort economy. [1]
The administration in context
The Nevada Gaming Commission was established during his administration. He also supported civil-rights and desegregation efforts and a state human-rights commission. Those parallel histories belong beside the casino expansion story. [1]
Key dates
People in the same story
Charles H. Russell
The preceding administration in Nevada’s succession. [2]
Read the profilePaul Laxalt
The following administration in Nevada’s succession. [2]
Read the profileOran K. Gragson
Follow the related story in Oran K. Gragson’s profile. [1]
Read the profileIn the archive
7 matching entries in the saved collection.
1959 legislative address — Grant Sawyer
An original message by Grant Sawyer preserved in the Nevada Legislature’s historical address collection.
1960 legislative address — Grant Sawyer
An original message by Grant Sawyer preserved in the Nevada Legislature’s historical address collection.
Photograph of Governor Grant Sawyer and Fire Chief George Rambo, Nevada, circa 1960s
Photograph · North Las Vegas Library Photograph Collection on North Las Vegas, Nevada. Catalog date: Circa 1960–1969.
1961 legislative address — Grant Sawyer
An original message by Grant Sawyer preserved in the Nevada Legislature’s historical address collection.
Senators Howard Cannon and Alan Bible with Governor Grant Sawyer at Straza Industries groundbreaking ceremony at McCarran Airfield, Las Vegas, Nevada: photographic print
Photograph · Howard Cannon Photograph Collection. Catalog date: October 1961.
1963 legislative address — Grant Sawyer
An original message by Grant Sawyer preserved in the Nevada Legislature’s historical address collection.
Go deeper into the record.
Sources for this profile and starting points for further research. Access notes mark links we could not open directly during the October 3–4, 2026 checks. Historical accounts describe their own period; they do not necessarily describe current operations.
- 1
Grant Sawyer — gubernatorial biography
A retrospective reference. Use the linked legislative records to investigate the administration in its own words.
- 2
Governors and State of the State addresses, 1864–present
Includes original speeches and distinguishes acting service from elected terms. A speech records proposals and claims, not proof that a policy succeeded.