Henderson’s Stephanie Street named as part of a campaign promise

While driving down Stephanie Street in Henderson, Stephanie Page Wurzer, 66, says she hardly ever thinks about the fact that the street was named for her.

"I only think about it when someone points it out," Wurzer said. "I am on myself quite often . At least every other day."

During the 1950s, a politician asked Wurzer to help hand out fliers for his campaign.

"He told me if I helped hand out fliers, he would name a street after me," Wurzer said. "I was a child. I was gullible. He didn't even get elect ed for mayor."

However, a dirt road was named Stephanie Street.

According to Mark Hall-Patton, administrator of the Clark County museum system, the naming also had to do with Wurzer's father, Harold, who was a plant manager with Stauffer Chemicals and knew the officials in charge of naming the street.

That isolated dirt road developed over the years and now is one of Henderson's busiest streets with retail and housing developments for miles.

"You can say it got better with age, just like me," Wurzer said.

Wurzer's parents moved to Henderson in 1946, before the city was incorporated. Wurzer was only 1 year old.

"My dad was looking for a job," Wurzer said.

Harold started out digging ditches at Stauffer Chemicals and soon became a plant manager.

Wurzer's two sisters were born at the St. Rose Dominican Hospital de Lima Campus, 102 E. Lake Mead Parkway.

Wurzer and her siblings all attended Basic High School.

"I was class of 1963," Wurzer said.

The family stayed in Henderson.

"There really is no place like home," Wurzer said.

Wurzer worked at Basic High School for 25 years as the school banker. Her sister taught Spanish there .

Wurzer is married to John Cahill, the Clark County public administrator, but still retains the Wurzer name.

"My father never had boys," Wurzer said. "Someone had to keep the family name going."

All three siblings live within a few blocks of each other near Black Mountain.

"We live in historic Henderson," Wurzer said. "Not Green Valley. We are in the original."

Wurzer says her siblings don't pay much attention to her street.

"I'm quite full of myself," Wurzer said. "I am used to getting attention in other ways."

However, Wurzer's grandson Halen Owens gets a kick out of the street.

"I think about it every time I drive down the street," Owens said. "That street sign just makes me think of (my grandmother)."

Even if future generations of the family don't stay in Henderson, Wurzer knows a part of her family's legacy will stay here through her name.

"It's a main artery in Green Valley," Wurzer said. "I am very proud of that."

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