Bruce A. Matley

A Nevada native, Bruce A. Matley was born August 7, 1948, in Reno to Wayne Matley and Alouise Hebert. He spent his earliest years on the family's Matley Ranch, land that was later taken by eminent domain and now lies beneath Reno-Tahoe International Airport - a loss he felt throughout his life.

Mr. Matley first built a career in the arts, earning a BA, a master's, and a PhD in theatre. He performed as a professional actor for two seasons at the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival and went on to teach and direct, ultimately serving as chair of the theatre department at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. At age 40 he changed course, returning to school for an advanced degree and being admitted to the State Bar of Nevada on September 30, 1991.

In later years he returned to his Nevada roots and other pursuits, growing and selling dairy-grade alfalfa in the state before devoting himself to music. With his wife, Susan, he performed as the western duo "Nevada Slim & Cimarron Sue," giving more than 1,800 performances before retiring on January 1, 2015. He died December 23, 2018.