Street Talk: Sam Brady's roots go a long way back in Carson City

Sam Brady was born at Washoe Medical Center in Reno but that was only because "there was no hospital in Carson City then" and the 61-year old says that's the "only reason" he wasn't born in Carson City.

"I'm a fourth generation Carson City Nevadan," said Sam proudly as we began our visit. "I grew up in Carson City, went to school here and lived here until I joined the United States Marines in 1957. I got out in 1965 and came right back home to Carson City."

He smiled and added "You couldn't keep me away."

Before the Marines, Sam lived "right across from the capitol" on Second Street.

"Where the legislature is now," he noted. "Our home was where the Sutro Statue is. I used to play in the Old Nevada Appeal building which was on the corner of Second and Carson streets when I was a kid. That was in the late 1940's and early 1950's. My first job was delivering groceries for Austin's Market when I was 15 and 16 years old."

Sam's family came here a long time ago

"My great-grandparents lived in Carson City in the 1840's," Sam informed cheerfully. "Both my grandmothers were born in Carson City. My dad was too and my mom was born in Franktown in Washoe Valley. All were born at home and delivered by midwives."

We were talking about this weekend and Nevada Day and Sam said his great-grandparents were born "before Nevada became a state" and they are buried at Lone Mountain Cemetery.

"So are my grandparents and my mom and dad," he added. "That's where Kay and I will be buried too - not for a long time, we hope."

Kay and Sam have been married for 35 years. She was born in Burley, Idaho.

"We got married at her mother's home on Corbett Street," said Sam happily. "There are three children in our family. Sam Jr., lives in St. Paul, Minn. Deanna lives in Columbus, Ga. Only Steve lives in Carson City. He works for Central Sierra Construction Company."

Sam's dad was named Bud and his mom's name was Alva.

"Dad worked for the Highway Department in Nevada for most of his life," said Sam. "During WWII he was a tank commander in the U.S. Army. He passed away in 1976 at age 68 from a heart attack. Mom worked for the state of Nevada in the Department of Taxation. She died in 1967 from cancer. She was 59 years old."

He did note that Kay's parents are both deceased.

"Her mom in 1991 and her dad in 1988," said Sam. "Did I mention Kay and I have two grandchildren?"

Not until now ....

Sam has one "older brother" named Stan who lives in Carson City and works for McCall Realty as a realtor. Kay has two brothers and two sisters and all live elsewhere.

"Kay is the oldest," said Sam. "All her siblings live out-of-state and are scattered all over the country. Kay was 18 when her mom moved the family here.

"We met at the Hunter's Lodge that was on the corner of Fourth and Carson streets. She was a waitress and I was a customer. I asked her out on a date and that led to marriage six months later - a very smart move on my part."

HE WAS A FIREMAN FIRST

When Sam returned from the Marines, he "went to work" for the Carson City Fire Department.

"I was a fireman and later I became a baker for Safeway," he recalled. "Then I bought and operated my own store called Sierra Bakery. I sold it in 1985 and went to work at Carson-Tahoe Hospital in the dietary department. I retired in 1993. Kay is a nurse at Carson Convalescent Center. She's been there 15 years."

Kay and Sam live in Mound House. They "bought an acre and a half" in 1972.

"We put our double-wide mobile home on it and have lived there ever since," said Sam. "At home we have two dogs and two cats and our pet duck named D-Duck. We also have a rooster named Rooster Bob and we've had chickens and pigs and lambs and goats at home at one time or another."

Sam did say they've "slowed down now" but they are still an "active couple" just not as active as they once were.

"It was fun, a new experience for us but we were younger then," said Sam with a laugh. "We still keep active but not as much as we used too."

Speaking of Fun, I asked Sam what he and Kay do for fun.

"We both like to fish and camp out," he replied. "We travel to Idaho a lot. We're outdoor people. Kay likes to knit and sew and crochet a lot and I like to read quite a bit. That's our life and we like it and wouldn't change a thing."

He paused for a second, then added that Carson City is "getting too big for me" but he still likes Carson City.

"It's home to me and my family and always will be," he said, grinning. "But if it stopped growing that wouldn't bother us one bit but I doubt that will happen."

Probably will but not in our lifetime is what I told him as we parted company.

He just shook his head in agreement.

A VISIT TO THE PAST

That's what you'll see if you tune in our Street Talk TV Show tonight on CAT-10 at 6 p.m. It's our annual Nevada Day Show and we'll visit with President Abraham Lincoln, who will tell us all about how Nevada became a state and how important Nevada was to his presidency and we'll see plenty of old photos and talk about Nevada back then plus we've got a few surprises on the one-hour show that repeats Monday at 8 a.m.

(ALAN ROGERS is a Nevada Appeal columnist. Call him at 887-2430, ext. 402.)