Ralph Lamb
Ralph Lamb (April 10, 1927 – July 3, 2015) was an American lawman who served as Sheriff of Clark County for 18 years.[1]
Lamb was born in Alamo, Nevada, one of 11 children born to his mother and father. His father died in a rodeo accident on July 3, 1939 (76 years to the day before Ralph's own death) when Lamb was just 12. Lamb and his siblings took odd jobs to help make ends meet during The Great Depression. He enlisted in the Army and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He returned to Nevada and took a position as a deputy Sheriff. He left in 1954 to start his own private detective agency.
In 1958, he made a bid to be the next Sheriff of the county, but lost to Butch Leypoldt. Leypoldt served until 1961, when he was promoted to the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Lamb was named his successor, and would go on to serve until 1978. Lamb spearheaded the charge against the mob moving into Las Vegas during that time.[2]
in 2012, a show titled Vegas was made, based on Lamb's time as Sheriff. Dennis Quaid portrayed Lamb.[3]
Lamb died on July 3, 2015 in Las Vegas, aged 88.[4]
See also
Floyd Lamb, Ralph's older brother and former member of the Nevada Senate.[5]