LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Family, friends, and community members gathered at Polly Gonzalez Memorial Park to celebrate Nevada’s first Latina evening news anchor’s life and legacy, 20 years after her passing.
Polly Gonzalez was a trailblazing news anchor and beloved member of the Las Vegas community. She started her career in 1994 and became the first-ever Latina news anchor in Nevada.
“She loved the community obviously, but she was always going to schools talking to kids,” Gonzalez’s sister, Linda Gonzalez, said.
Gonzalez was born and raised in San Jose, California, where she was the first member of her family to attend college.
Outside of her award-winning work, Gonzalez had a passion for molding the next generation of journalists. She spent much of her time mentoring young Hispanic students who were interested in a career in journalism.
“When she would come to our school to visit and mentor the students there was nothing but positive things to say, about her,” said Mike Bashay, Principal of Knudson Academy of the Arts.
On March 28, 2005, Gonzalez’s life was cut short in a car accident while driving with her daughters who survived the crash near the California-Nevada border. The news of her passing shocked the community and left a void that continues to be felt.
“The things that she has done they weren’t for her. They were for the kids, for the people and the parents. She was somebody you could look at as a positive influence,” Linda Gonzalez said.
In the years since her passing, Gonzalez’s legacy has lived on through scholarships, mentorship programs, and the countless lives she touched during her career. The Nevada Broadcasters Association and Foundation established a scholarship in her name.
A permanent plaque honoring Gonzalez will be placed at the park in the coming weeks.
