Reno Confidential

In Reno Confidential, veteran Nevada historian Richard Moreno pulls back the curtain on the Biggest Little City to reveal eleven men and women who shaped its destiny—some celebrated, others nearly forgotten. Heavyweights like George Wingfield and William Harrah loom large, but Moreno digs deeper, spotlighting bold reformers, civil rights leaders, architects, club owners, and even underworld figures who steered Reno’s image in lasting ways.

From free-thinking mayor Edwin E. Roberts to trailblazing attorney Felice Cohn, from visionary designer Frederic DeLongchamps to colorful dealmakers working behind the scenes, these were the original influencers—long before social media—who used newspapers, politics, business, and sheer force of personality to leave their mark.

Lively, accessible, and rich with story, Reno Confidential brings the city’s past into sharp focus through eleven unforgettable characters whose ambitions, rivalries, and vision helped make Reno what it is today.