Megan Sorensen

Off the Court

Nevada alumni, as Megan Sorensen tells it on the shows. Each story was checked against its source.

• Frankie Sue Del PapaNevada's first female attorney general

  Frankie Sue Del Papa, class of 1971. First woman to be Nevada's secretary of state, first woman to be its attorney general. Two glass ceilings, one alumna. Efficient.

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• Catherine Cortez Mastofirst Latina U.S. senator

  Catherine Cortez Masto, class of 1986. Former Nevada attorney general, and the first Latina ever to serve in the United States Senate. Reno sends its regards to Washington.

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• Harvey Whittemorelobbyist convicted in 2013

  Harvey Whittemore went to school here, then lobbied for gambling, alcohol and tobacco. In 2013 a federal jury found him guilty on three felony counts. Two years in prison, hundred thousand dollar fine. He's ours. We checked. Twice.

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• Charley Douglassinventor of the laugh track

  Charley Douglass, electrical engineering, is credited with inventing the laugh track. He got a 1992 Emmy for it. So every time a sitcom laughed at its own joke, that was a Nevada engineer. You're welcome.

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• Ron Toomerupside-down roller coaster designer

  Ron Toomer, class of 1961, introduced the modern looping roller coaster with the Corkscrew, the first in the world with two inversions. A Nevada grad looked at a perfectly good ride and said, flip it. Twice. Practical? No. Ours? Yes.

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