Tribute to Arthur "Art" Edward Bernard

Floor Speech

TRIBUTE TO ARTHUR ``ART'' EDWARD BERNARD -- (Senate - September 19, 2005)

Mr. REID. Mr. President, too often, the civil servants who make a State run properly do not get the recognition they deserve. Arthur ``Art'' Edward Bernard is one of those men. Today, I rise to honor a man who has left a lasting impact on Nevada through his work in government.

Art Bernard was raised in the mining camps of Utah before striking out on his own at the age of 16. His travels brought him to the Bristol Mine in Pioche, NV. There, he worked in the hardscrabble world of ``mucking'' or loading the ore carts. Mucking is all about brute strength, and Art won mucking contests throughout Nevada. The toughness and tenacity he showed as a miner served Art well in his appointment as State Mine Inspector in 1947. In this capacity, he worked to improve the safety standards of the mines.

His work was noticed by Governor Charles Russell, and Art was appointed warden of the Nevada State Prison in 1950. At first, Art had doubts about his new position because he had no previous experience in the prison system. Like any good miner, Art refused to become discouraged, and he embraced the new challenges of his position.

Art's tenure could not have come at a better time for the Nevada State prison; he navigated the tumultuous changes occurring in prisons across the country. Demanding better living conditions, prisoners across the country rioted and the Nevada State prison was no different. Rioting prisoners demanded to see the Governor, but Art refused to cave to their demands. Instead, he barricaded the prisoners in the prison yard for 3 days until the protest disbanded peacefully.

As part of the settlement, Art allowed a commission of three prisoners, called the ``three wise men,'' to submit prison grievances directly to him. Art viewed the inmates as students at what he dubbed ``Greystone U.'' Over the years, Art developed a close relationship with the inmates, and he made himself available to any inmate who wanted to see him during daily walks around the grounds. He worked to improve the quality of life at the prison by establishing a boxing program for the inmates and a prison orchestra.

Art's revolutionary ideas jump started the work program at the Nevada State prison. Art applied his mining background to prison life when he started a rock quarry for the prisoners. Each new prisoner was responsible for a certain quota from the quarry each day. In addition, Art allowed prisoners to work on local ranches and farms as laborers, and the prison received local produce and supplies for the prison in exchange. The prison labor exchange was not the only way Art saved Nevada taxpayer dollars. He also used prison labor to build new facilities at the Nevada State prison.

Art served Nevada in a great time of need and helped modernize Nevada's prison operations with the strength and tenacity that he learned from mining camps across my State. Most importantly, Art sought to improve the lives and treatment of prisoners when other prison systems were languishing with inferior standards and facilities.

Art's contributions to Nevada did not stop after his retirement. Recently, Art finished interviews about his life with the Nevada Mining Oral History project. Future generations will be able to hear about Art's years spent in mines across Nevada, in addition to stories about prison life at ``Greystone U.'' This oral history is another contribution to Nevada history from a man who helped to shape my State. Nevada is a better place because of men like Art Bernard, and he deserves recognition today before the Senate.

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