SILVER DOLLARS AND WOODEN NICKELS: Jesse Carson’s Renaissance man

The Nevada Appeal’s Silver Dollars & Wooden Nickels feature recognizes achievements from the capital region and, when warranted, points out other acts that missed the mark.

SILVER DOLLAR: Ed Jesse was truly Carson City’s Renaissance man. What else could you say about a man who coached a state championship football team and loved ballroom dancing?

Jesse died last month at the age of 86 after a four-month illness, his family said. Jesse, who played football at the University of Nevada, coached the Carson High football team from 1962 to 1965 and led the Senators to their last state title when CHS won the 2A state crown in 1964. Jesse was also inducted into the Carson High Football Hall of Fame.

While Jesse’s time at CHS was short, his impact is still felt.

SILVER DOLLAR: To Carson High wrestler Brady O’Keefe for taking eight place at the Tournament of Champions, which earned him All-American status. Also to O’Keefe for taking second in the high-powered Sierra Nevada Classic and to his teammates Brandon Basa for placing third and Sheldon Miller for taking sixth in the same event.

SILVER DOLLAR: To the Adopt a Vet Dental Program, Carson City’s Advanced Dentristry by Design, Assemblyman P.K. O’Neill and the several state and local agencies for their work in providing dental care to veterans, including recently to 103-year-old World War II veteran Frank Minervini.

SILVER DOLLAR: To Carson High senior Taylor Weddell for organizing the community Christmas tree to raise money for the Carson City School District.

SILVER DOLLAR: To the Stemler family for donating $14,000 to the Carson Animal Services Initiative, which is going to the construction of the new animal shelter.

SILVER DOLLAR: To Eagle Valley Middle School principal Lee Conley for being named Administrator of the Year by the Nevada Association of School Boards.

SILVER DOLLAR: We thanked our contributors last week, but a special recognition goes to Carson City’s Ken Beaton. Beaton contributes about once a month to the Appeal, teaching stories about the greatest military on earth. It was also Beaton who introduced us to Charles Sehe and helped spearhead the effort to get Sehe to Carson City. Thank you Ken for your contributions to the Appeal and Carson City.