R. Ian Ross

R. Ian Ross was born Ross Ian Rosenbaum on December 12, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan. He was raised in Nevada, graduating from Las Vegas High School in 1956 - where he served in the prosecuting attorney role of the student court - before continuing at Nevada Southern from 1957 to 1958 and the University of Nevada, Reno, where he earned his degree in 1960 and served as founding chief judge of the student court. He went on to earn his law degree from Stanford Law School in 1963.

Ross built a wide-ranging career in Nevada law and public service. He served as a law clerk at the Nevada Supreme Court in 1964, and later as a Clark County Deputy District Attorney from 1966 to 1967 and as Las Vegas Assistant City Attorney from 1970 to 1974. He was elected to the Nevada State Legislature, serving from 1977 to 1978, and served as board counsel for the Clark County Health District from 1988 to 2000.

Beyond his legal work, Ross was active in civic life, serving as president of the North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce from 1984 to 1985 and taking part in several civic organizations. In 2013 he received the Achievement in Service Award from the UNLV Alumni Association. Following his retirement in 2000, he enjoyed traveling, bridge, reading, and time with family and friends. He died on March 9, 2021, at the age of 82.