Lloyd Keith ASHWORTH

Aus Find A Grave: Birth: Sep. 4, 1924 Kimberly White Pine County Nevada, USADeath: Sep. 30, 1996 Las Vegas Clark County Nevada, USA Powerful Nevada Legislator Ashworth dies at age 71 Keith Ashworth, an 18-year veteran of the Nevada Legislature and once one of the state's most powerful men, has died after a brief illness. He was 71. A native Nevadan first elected to the Assembly in 1967, Ashworth served as Assembly speaker in the 1973 and 1975 sessions. In 1976, Ashworth was elected to the Senate, leading all candidates in a district that at the time included much of metropolitan Las Vegas. During his last term, the lawmaker served as president pro tempore of the Senate, placing him second in line for succession to then-Lt. Gov. Richard Bryan. "State government ran effectively long before we got here and it still will operate after we are gone," Ashworth said in 1984 after he announced he would not seek re-election to his Senate District 6 seat. In February 1984, Ashworth served as acting governor when Gov. Bryan and then Lt. Gov. Bob Cashell were out of the state on business. Ashworth said he had been informed by the lieutenant governor's office of his temporary post. "I told my wife (Colleen) that I would be governor, and she said, 'Big deal,'" Ashworth said with a laugh. There were few wheelers and dealers in Nevada history who were bigger in stature and prominence than Ashworth. And although Ashworth's name might not be familiar to many Southern Nevadans who have moved here in recent years, his work in the Legislature affects them all -- especially at tax time. Ashworth aggressively fought any efforts to institute a state income or inheritance tax. To this day, there are no such taxes in Nevada. "I worked hard to keep all taxes down in Nevada and to keep a firm hand on government spending," Ashworth said in 1984. Among Ashworth's proudest achievements was passage of a bill providing that no points or insurance record be imposed on any person driving up to 70 mph on state highways. After he retired from the Legislature, Ashworth accepted a position as manager of community relations for Nevada Power Co. In recent years, he served as a lobbyist for the local utility. Ashworth was born Sept. 4, 1924, in Kimberly, a copper mining company town near Ely. After graduation from White Pine High School in 1943, Ashworth enlisted in the Air Force and served as a pilot in World War II. After his honorable discharge, Ashworth attended Butler University in Indianapolis, and the University of Utah, where he majored in accounting. He moved his family to Las Vegas in 1947, and started working as an accountant. Later, Ashworth was a partner in the accounting firm of Ashworth and Ashworth, serving as an accountant and financial adviser for many gaming operations. A longtime Democrat, Ashworth switched to the Republican Party when he left the Legislature. Among his friends were governors, judges, senators and at least one popular Las Vegas restaurateur. "He was the best buddy I ever had," said Garland Miner, who has owned and operated Poppa Gar's restaurant for 30 years. "I've known Keith since 1940, and you can't beat him as a friend or a person. He's done so much good for so many people; he's going to be missed." Ashworth was an avid hunter and fisherman. Once, after an unproductive fishing trip, Ashworth prepared a barbecue at his home for Miner and himself and convinced the restaurateur to try one of his homemade delicacies: stuffed hamburger. The Keith Ashworth Special Recipe Stuffed Hamburger is featured on the menu at Poppa Gar's. Another good friend was former state Senator Dr. Bob Robinson. "All my years in the Legislature, I walked in Keith's shadow, and I was happy to do so," Robinson said. "He was a great leader, a great arbitrator and the best friend I ever had. I miss him already." Robinson and Ashworth accompanied each other on many family hunting and fishing trips in the mountains of Northern Nevada over the years. "Keith was a great camp cook. He could make biscuits in a dutch oven. When the hunting was good, we'd eat quail," Robinson said. "Keith knew Nevada inside and out, and he could do most everything. He wasn't just a pencil-pusher. He could weld, shoe a horse, repair tack and brand calves. He loved to play cowboy." Assembly Co-Speaker Joe Dini, D-Yerington, praised Ashworth, saying, "The state is losing a good leader." He (Ashworth) taught me more than anybody else how to administer a session," Dini said. "He was a real leader in Southern Nevada when it was growing, but he always had a soft spot for rural Nevada." In the Legislature, Ashworth served two terms as speaker of the Assembly, as chairman of the Senate Taxation Committee, chairman of the Senate Human Resources Committee and chairman of the Senate Government Committee. He served as chairman of the Legislative Commission twice and was chairman of the Legislature's Interim Study Committee on probate laws and taxes. During the 1960s and 1970s, Ashworth served as senior vice president for community and government relations for the Del Webb Corp. He was a past member of the board of directors of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, United Fund, American Bank of Commerce, and the board of trustees of Valley Hospital. He was also a past officer of the Rotary Club, Elks Lodge, Masonic Lodge, Boulder Dam Area Council of Boy Scouts and the Boys Club of Clark County. A former Clark County public administrator, he was also a member of the National Society of Public Accountants and past president of the Nevada Society of Public Accountants. Besides his wife, Colleen (Christensen), he is survived by three sons: Glenn, 49, Kenneth, 45, and Brian, 35, and several grandchildren. (Written by Bob Shemeligian Oct 1, 1996) Family links: Parents: John Earl Ashworth (1884 - 1957) Mary Jane Oxborrow Ashworth (1885 - 1968) Spouse: Colleen Elva Christensen Ashworth (1926 - 2015)* Siblings: Donald Earl Ashworth (1910 - 1984)* Irene Ashworth Barnard (1912 - 1987)* Genevieve Ashworth Knobbs Peterson (1915 - 2002)* John Clair Ashworth (1917 - 1985)* Verle Ashworth (1920 - 1969)* Lloyd Keith Ashworth (1924 - 1996) *Calculated relationship Burial: Palm Desert Memorial Las Vegas Clark County Nevada, USA Created by: Jill Barnard Record added: May 06, 2014 Find A Grave Memorial# 129333417 Added by: Jill Barnard Added by: Jill Barnard Cemetery Photo Added by: Patricia Edmonds Photos may be scaled. Click on image for full size. Remembering your roses and garden, Uncle Keith! We miss you! - Jill Barnard Added: May. 6, 2014

Comments