Sarann Knight Preddy

Sarann Knight Preddy                    Photo courtesy: UNR

Sarann Knight Preddy (1920-2014) was an entrepreneur, civil rights activist, and the first black woman to receive a gaming license in Nevada.  In 1950, she and her husband moved to Hawthorne, Nevada where she received her gaming license for the Tonga Club; the town’s only gaming establishment for African Americans.

When Sarann returned to Las Vegas she became involved in integration efforts with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and operated several businesses.  In the 1980s, she and her family launched an effort to reopen the Moulin Rouge. Although ultimately unsuccessful, her work to save the city’s first integrated casino helped ensure its place in Las Vegas history.

Sarann is now featured in our galleries thanks to sponsorship from Bank of America supporting women’s contribution to Nevadan history.