[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 153 (Thursday, September 21, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S4651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO McAVOY LAYNE

 Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the 
legacy of McAvoy Layne. Mr. Layne has dedicated 35 years of his life to 
promoting art and literature to audiences across Nevada. After more 
than 4,000 performances as one of the premier Mark Twain impersonators, 
Mr. Layne will share his legendary charm with audiences for one last 
time at Piper's Opera House, in historic Virginia City, NV, on 
September 30, 2023.
  As a lifelong Nevadan, I always appreciate our State's history and 
those who tell and preserve it. Samuel Langhorne Clemens became Mark 
Twain while residing in Nevada between the years 1861 and 1864. It was 
in this 3-year span that Mark Twain's career set off, writing for 
``Territorial Enterprise'' in Virginia City and inspiring the novel 
``Roughing It,'' which helped introduce Nevada to the world.
  McAvoy Layne moved to Tahoe's North Shore 40 years ago when he was 
offered a job at Diamond Peak Ski Resort. He has lived there ever 
since, and it was there he discovered his calling to impersonate and 
educate people about one of America's best-known authors, Mark Twain.
  Mr. Layne began his career as a Twain impersonator at Piper's Opera 
House in Virginia City, NV, performing two shows a day, 6 days a week 
in the summer of 1988. Over the years, he specialized in school 
programs, visiting schools across the United States, Europe, and 
Russia. He would sometimes visit 10 schools a week, performing for 
students of all ages. Countless Nevadans can recall stories of Mr. 
Layne visiting their school as Mark Twain.
  Highlights of Mr. Layne's career include winning the Nevada Award for 
Excellence in School and Library Service, playing the ghost of Samuel 
Clemens in the Biography Channel's episode on Mark Twain, and 
participating in the Discovery Channel's Cronkite Award-winning 
documentary, ``Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.''
  Mr. Layne is not just an actor but a writer, educator, storyteller, 
and a Nevada icon. September 30 will mark the end of an era as he takes 
the stage one last time in the place where it all began. It is 
important to ensure future generations understand Nevada's history, and 
I would like to thank Mr. Layne for his service in educating us about 
the legendary Samuel Clemens.

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