George Foley Sr.

George Foley Sr. was a member of what has been called Nevada's first family of law. Born in Goldfield in 1922, he graduated from Las Vegas High School in 1940 and, after serving as a Navy aviation radioman during World War II, went on to graduate at the top of his class from the University of California Hastings Law School in 1956. He was admitted to the State Bar of Nevada that same year, beginning a legal career that would span some 54 years.

After briefly practicing with his brothers in the Foley Brothers firm, he was elected Clark County District Attorney in 1958. Following his service as district attorney, he returned to private practice, working primarily as a criminal defense and family law attorney. He continued as a sole practitioner from the 1970s until his retirement in May 2010 at the age of 88.

George Foley Sr. belonged to one of Nevada's most prominent legal families. His brother Roger became a federal judge, for whom the Foley Federal Building is named; brothers Thomas and Joe held judicial and regent positions, and brother John served in the Nevada Senate. He was remembered as a renowned storyteller and a respected member of the Las Vegas legal community.