Lavere redfield biography of rory

Interpretations of the life of late Reno millionaire LaVere Redfield has often been more rumors than reality, more folklore than fact.

In the years since his death in 1974, it seems Redfield, who could often be seen about town in coveralls, plaid shirt and work boots, has morphed into a Northern Nevada version of Howard Hughes – eccentric and paranoid, a recluse in the stone mansion he shared with his wife on Mt.

Rose Street.

Jack Harpster, a retired newspaperman and author of seven other books in the biography genre, heard many of those Redfield stories after moving to Reno a decade ago.

“I heard a lot of myths and legends,” Harpster said.

“I thought he’d be an interesting guy to do some research on, so I started going through the old newspapers. It was a treasure trove.”

What he found that LaVere Redfield was a complicated man and many of the stories were simply myths.

“Redfield had an awful lot of good qualities,”