LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — When Carolyn Goodman leaves office as Mayor of Las Vegas, it will mark the end of an era.
Between Goodman and her husband, Oscar, the city has spent the past quarter-century with Goodman leadership at the helm.
The Goodmans were a power couple in Las Vegas before either of them ran for mayor. And as they near the end of their time in public service, they spoke exclusively with Channel 13 anchor Tricia Kean about their lives' work.
WATCH 'THE GOODMAN YEARS' HERE
She was born Carolyn Goldmark on March 25, 1939. Oscar Goodman was born on July 26 that same year. Today, they've shared more than 60 years together — and Kean asked them about those early years.
TRICIA KEAN: "How did you two meet?"
OSCAR GOODMAN: "Well, we went to a brother-sister college situation. Not the same college, but down the road from one another. I went to Haverford College, outside of Philadelphia, and Carolyn went to Bryn Mawr College.
The boys from Haverford would go over to Bryn Mawr and ogle at the various ladies there. And the women there would make faces when they saw the guys from Haverford. And her roommate said, 'There's a guy you're going to marry.'"
KEAN: "Really?"
CAROLYN GOODMAN: "Well, she thought he was cool and I should meet him."
The couple says it was another year before they actually started dating.
KEAN: "So you proposed and you're —"
CAROLYN GOODMAN: "No, I proposed."
KEAN: "Really?"
CAROLYN GOODMAN: "I said, 'You know, I'd marry you if you just ask me.' And I turned around and I thought, 'Who said that? For sure not me.' And yet, true."
Oscar Goodman and Carolyn Goldmark were married June 6, 1962. Just two years later, in August 1964, the newlyweds moved to what was then a much smaller Las Vegas.
KEAN (to Oscar): "So, why the move to Las Vegas? I know it was because of you."
OSCAR GOODMAN: "Well, you know, we're being perfectly honest during this interview because you're a legitimate reporter. And like most of the reporters around here — although I'm not going to talk about the new ones — I like the old ones.
But I wasn't the best law school student. So, Carolyn wrote a letter to, I'd say 300 district attorney's offices around the United States, because I had my experience in the Philadelphia DA's office as a clerk, and only two responded. So it was either here or Klamath Falls, Oregon."
The rest, as they say, is history.
KEAN: "It was a pretty good decision to come to Las Vegas."
OSCAR GOODMAN: "Oh, geez. This town has been so good to us.
We arrived here with $87 in our pocket. We didn't have a dime more than that. And we were able to get an apartment and go working right away and never had a bad day."
While Oscar was working as an attorney, Carolyn landed a position in advertising and publicity at the Riviera Hotel.
CAROLYN GOODMAN: "Loved the job. Got to see all the stars that came there and really enjoyed it. ...But I was there for two years, and then moved over to Caesars Palace."
OSCAR GOODMAN: "And Carolyn will say that I make things up all the time and I'm the master of hyperbole. But the truth of the matter is, she was in line to become the president of Caesars Palace, had we not started our family.
She'll deny it and she'll shake her head. But I know what was happening in these hotels in those days, and I know it's Carolyn Goodman who was right up front on the list."
Find more exclusive interviews and insight into how the Goodmans have shaped Las Vegas at ktnv.com/goodmanyears.
