John Tom Ross

John Tom Ross, known to many as Tom, was a Nevada native born in Wellington, Nevada, the son of the late Judge John R. Ross and Margaret Burns Ross. Raised in Yerington and later in Carson City after his father received a presidential appointment to the bench, he graduated from Carson High in 1947 and from the University of Nevada in 1951. He then moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked for Senator Malone during the day to put himself through Georgetown Law at night, and he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1953, serving in Korea. After his military service he completed his law degree at Georgetown and returned to Carson City to practice.

In 1958, Ross was elected District Attorney of what was then Ormsby County. He went on to practice law across the State of Nevada, and later in his career served as a Deputy District Attorney under Rex Bell in Clark County. Throughout his life he worked alongside his close friend and fellow attorney Jack Christensen, for whom he always kept an office. Beyond the law, Ross held several mining claims in Nevada and pursued a range of business ventures, including Cinderlite and Savage Construction.

Ross was deeply devoted to the University of Nevada, remaining a longtime and generous athletic booster throughout his life. He counted among his proudest honors having once represented his district as a member of the Nevada Board of Regents. He was preceded in death by his sister, Jackalyn 'Jackie' Ross Laxalt, and is remembered for his loyalty to his friends, his family, and his home state.