'Tahoe Boy' author at museum lecture

by Sharlene Irete

sirete@recordcourier.com

Author Pat Hickey will talk about life in western Nevada and Lake Tahoe when he discusses his book, "Tahoe Boy, A Journey Back Home," at the Douglas County Historical Society's monthly lecture Thursday.

Hickey's book is about his experiences of growing up in the 1950s in Lake Tahoe when it was still a small community of about 150 year-round residents. He writes about his careers reporting for KOH radio, writing for the Nevada Appeal and serving on the Nevada Legislature.

"The theme of the book is the prodigal son's return home," Hickey said. "The twist is that I wanted to come home with something, not empty-handed.

"I grew up on Ski Run Boulevard within walking distance of Heavenly Valley," he said. "I had the distinction of being the first person to break a leg on Gun Barrel on Friday the 13th the first year Heavenly opened."

What Hickey found in his lectures is that audiences want to know about Tahoe as a small community, winter weather at the Lake and about the Hickey family.

"I tell stories about my relatives Judge Hickey and Brooks Park from the Park Cattle Co., and my 96-year-old dad George Hickey, who used to run Hickey Ice in the summer and provide heating oil in the winter at Lake Tahoe," said Hickey. "I keep it as local as possible."

Hickey, author of "Tahoe Boy, A Journey Back Home," is speaker at the Douglas County Historical Society's lecture, 7 p.m. Thursday, at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center, 1477 Highway 395, Gardnerville.

Admission is $3, free for historical society members. The museum and the Main Street Book Store are open before and after the one-hour lecture. Information, 782-2555.