[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Pages 20651-20652]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO ARTHUR ``ART'' EDWARD BERNARD

  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.

[[Page 20652]]

  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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