Jack Dempsey is associated in fact and in legend with many Nevada places: Reno, where he had prize fights as a teenager and later on the comeback trail; Ely, where he first began to attract crowds, and Goldfield and Tonopah, where he moved from amateur to professional status.
Dempsey started boxing professionally at the age of 19 and became one of the best known sports figures of the 1920s.
Professor Charles Greenhaw uses stories and pictures of Dempsey, Tex Richard and Nevada mining towns to explore the promotion of boxing in early 20th century Nevada - one of the few states receptive to prizefighting at the time.
The public is invited to a lecture by Greenhaw, retired history professor from Great Basin College in Elko. The program, to be held from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 28 at the Nevada State Museum, is part of the museum's Frances Humphrey Lecture Series held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. There is no admission charge.
Call Bob Nylen at 687-4810, ext. 239.
