Roscoe Patten Eardley

Roscoe (Ross) Patten Eardley was born October 22, 1924, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the youngest of four siblings. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the 84th Infantry Division in Germany during World War II, fighting in battles including the Roer River and the Battle of the Bulge. For his service he earned the Combat Infantry Badge, the Purple Heart, and the Silver Star, and was honorably discharged in 1952 at the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He attended the University of Utah, graduating in August 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, and went on to Stanford Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctorate in 1952.

Upon graduating from Stanford, Ross moved to Elko, Nevada, where he would live for the next 70 years. He practiced law in Elko for nearly 52 years before retiring. He was the first public defender in Nevada for Elko, White Pine, Lander, and Eureka counties. From 2003 to 2014, he also served as an adjunct professor at Great Basin College, teaching business law, constitutional law, and speech.

Beyond his legal career, Ross was a devoted member of his community. He joined the Elko Lions Club in 1952 and remained an active participant for decades, serving as president in 1959-1960 and holding nearly every office at the local club level. He enjoyed helping with the Elko County Fair Parade each year and was honored as its Grand Marshal in 2016. Roscoe Patten Eardley passed away February 20, 2022, at the age of 97.