Henderson justice facility named for man who helped shape the city

Even though Robert Swadell’s name lives on at the Robert A. Swadell Justice Facility, the memories of the man live on in people’s hearts.

“He was, in my mind, brilliant,” Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen said.

Swadell was born June 18, 1931, in California.

He lived all around the world and did several military tours. He served with the Army in Vietnam and Korea.

Swadell retired from the Army in 1972 as a lieutenant colonel.

“It’s my understanding that he was very influential in the military,” Hafen said.

Robert Murnane, the city’s public works director , said Swadell always had a story to tell.

“He had an interesting career in the military,” Murnane said. “He would always tell us stories.”

Swadell moved to Henderson in 1975. But he didn’t just live here, he served here.

While in Henderson, he volunteered on the Building Committee and oversaw construction on notable projects such as the Henderson Convention Center, the animal control center, the emergency services building and City Hall.

“He had a creative mind,” Murnane said. “When he saw his end goal, he would do everything in his power to make it happen.”

With that, no project was too daunting.

“He helped plan the construction for the new City Hall, or I should say the old part of the new City Hall,” Hafen said.

He was pivotal in the construction of the Veterans Memorial Wall next to City Hall.

Former Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson said that for a few years, Swadell helped organize the Veterans Day service in Henderson.

“He was a very patriotic guy,” Gibson said. “He was very proud that he was in the military. His patriotism showed up in many ways.”

Swadell also helped create Lake Las Vegas .

When Hafen was elected to the City Council in 1987, he was able to meet Swadell and work alongside him on some of the projects.

“It’s funny he never had any political aspirations I am aware of,” Hafen said. “He was a more behind-the-scenes type of guy. I guess you could say his unofficial duty was to make sure the taxpayers’ dollars were being well spent.”

Murnane said Swadell made all projects as cost-effective as possible.

In 1994, when the justice facility was built at 243 S. Water St., it was named for Swadell.

Swadell and his wife, Mary, moved to Pahrump in 2004, but the move didn’t end his passion to serve.

Swadell fought for improvements to the highway between Las Vegas and Pahrump.

Gibson said Swadell also was an advocate of building a college in Pahrump.

But Swadell’s health began fading .

“I know he was struggling in his last years,” Hafen said.

He died March 19, 2009, at 77.

Swadell was buried in the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Center in Boulder City.

Contact Henderson and Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 387-5201.