David J. Rivers

David Joseph Rivers II was a retired Las Vegas attorney, educator, and Marine Vietnam veteran. Born in Richland, Washington, he came to Las Vegas after serving in the Marine Corps and built his early career in education, earning a bachelor's degree with distinction in education from UNLV in 1972 and a master's degree in education from UNLV in 1976, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

He went on to study law, receiving his Juris Doctorate with highest honors in 1983 and beginning a legal career that spanned some 30 years. He practiced with the firm of Lionel, Sawyer & Collins and later concentrated on civil litigation and construction law with the firm of Leavitt, Sully & Rivers, from which he retired in 2013.

Taking pride in his Comanche and Apache Native American heritage, David served the tribal community as a legal advisor and tribal judge during his distinguished legal career. He is remembered for a colorful life of service in the military, in education, and in the practice of law.