Sparks High School - Terminus Yearbook (Sparks, NV)

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Ross Photo started as a bathroom operation with Mr. Ross processing his work in his home bathroom. During WWII Mr. Ross would photograph children of servicemen in their homes and then sell these photos to the mothers for mailing to their husbands. This started his interest in photography and in April of 1946 he opened the first Ross Photo at 1520 B St. in Sparks. As business in Sparks grew he felt it neces- sary to open a studio in Reno and did so in 1950. During the course of the years Mr. Ross had four studios in Reno and one at Stead Air Force Base. In 1959 Ross Photo moved from B St. to its present location at 1845 Prater Way. Ross Photo became a Nevada Corporation in 1963. During that same year the studio expanded to include a music and camera store. The music portion of this store was sold in 1969. A major change in operation took place in May of 1973 when Mr. Ross retired and studio operations were taken over by Brent Ross, Tom White, Helen Radmall, and Kaz Fujimoto. Today Ross Photo continues as a major intluence in the photo industry of Northern Nevada. A ., -wi..-nf To conserve money in the early years of his business, Mr. Ross would travel to Sparks High activities on his motorbike. Our current location at 1845 Prater Way in Sparks

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X, ,L f QQ L ii X VVVV ygrlysg-,f 1 I l ,ir r 4 .H- n H 1 ,W -f, W . gg?5,..,g.-fr, ' Y I N R at TY! vii PF? fire rf? 19 A P -Hn 4. ..?,,...,,., W , I f ,fe-s ,, M. WMM , . f , 'M f-f ,WWE ,, -M , Ross Photo under construction at its orrgmal locatlon on B St wxth Mr Ross on the left Even natural disasters were not enough to stop the enterprnsmg Mr Ross These are the results ofthe l950 flood that ruined hrs first Reno Studro or Sa-9 V J' ' J' gf--2 W 3' M-4w-T.: sm-...,,,, noss Pnoro SERVICE f. -. 1, h i l it fl E rg, A fr! 5 f , 1 fy.: x qt M -4,5 . 1 S seSMef r so , etlr l or , R, ,--- , -, ft Q . 1 . '- . ,, I '1 ,,v

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The original Real Estate West - soon to be enlarged - with the Znd. office already on Pyramid Way Patrick Higgins of Patrick Higgins Real Estate West did not arrive in Sparks as an already successful business- man . . . having made a small bank loan in early 1960 to open a small Restaurant-Cocktail Lounge in down- town Sparks, known as Patrick Higgins Bit O'Erin, an old building was remodeled into an atmosphere de- picting an Old Irish Pub , creating one of Sparks favorite gathering places. Recognizing Sparks as a City with great potential and a City with much promise, Patrick ventured in Real Estate Sales and Investments, eventually creating one of Sparks more successful Real Estate Businesses. Real Estate West was established as a one-man office in 1969, converting an old service station into Sparks leading Real Estate Firm today . .. each year since its inception Sales Volume has increased over 'A million dollars, with a staff of six persons presently and the establishment of a Branch Office on Pyramid Way that is planned for three additional Staff Members in 1976. Anticipating an economically sound future for Sparks, Patrick Higgins purchased the old Gepford Apartments at l5th and Prater Way one block from Sparks High, the apartments are now known as Patrick Higgins Apartments and the Country Store. Pat says, Only in America can a young man or woman start with virtually nothing and reach the pinnacle of Success . He believes everyone, sometime or another, gets the feeling of a Medieval Knight with a quest to make our Community a better place to live . . . he, too, gets the feeling and Sparks is the best place in the world to exercise that feeling. t