26 Facts About Lorna Kesterson

Lorna J Kesterson was an American journalist, newspaper editor and politician.

Lorna Kesterson served as the first female mayor of the city of Henderson, Nevada, for two consecutive four-year terms from 1985 to 1993.

Lorna Kesterson was the first and only woman to be Henderson's mayor until Debra March was sworn in to office in 2017.

Lorna Kesterson moved to Boulder City, Nevada, ranch with her family during the 1930s and graduated from Boulder City High School.

Lorna Kesterson received her bachelor's degree in journalism from Utah State University.

Lorna Kesterson worked as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after completing college, primarily in Philadelphia and New York City.

Lorna Kesterson returned to Clark County, Nevada, where she began her career and started a family with her husband, Robert "Bob" Kesterson.

Lorna Kesterson reported for both the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Las Vegas Sun during the 1950s.

Lorna Kesterson covered local Henderson and Boulder City news for the newspapers.

Lorna Kesterson was next hired as a reporter for the now defunct Henderson Home News, a local community paper, for nearly thirty years before launching a career in politics.

Lorna Kesterson later became the managing editor of the Henderson Home News as well.

Lorna Kesterson sold the newspaper's articles to larger publications, including the Deseret News and the Las Vegas Sun.

Lorna Kesterson continued to work as a reporter while serving on the Henderson City Council from 1977 to 1985.

Lorna Kesterson retired as managing editor of the Henderson Home News upon her election as Mayor of Henderson in 1985.

Lorna Kesterson did not enter politics until she was 49 years old.

Lorna Kesterson was appointed to the Henderson City Council in 1975.

Lorna Kesterson was named as Henderson's woman of the year in 1975, the same year as her appointment.

Lorna Kesterson remained a newspaper reporter and editor while serving on the council until her retirement from the newspaper in 1985.

In 1985, Lorna Kesterson was elected Henderson's first female mayor, becoming the first woman to hold that office.

Lorna Kesterson was re-elected to a second, four-year in term in 1989.

Lorna Kesterson served on a number of boards of directors within the Las Vegas Valley, including the Henderson Development Association, the Nevada League of Cities and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Lorna Kesterson held a seat on the Clark County Board of Health throughout the 1980s.

Lorna Kesterson collapsed and died unexpectedly during a routine visit to her doctor's office on January 16,2012, at the age of 86.

Lorna Kesterson was survived by her two sons, Don Kesterson of Henderson and Roger Kesterson; seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; and two siblings, Venus Marriages and Donal Jolley.

Lorna Kesterson was predeceased by two sons, Robert Ross Kesterson and Jim Lynn Kesterson, and her husband of nearly 40 years, Robert Earl Kesterson.

Andy Hafen, Mayor of Henderson from 2009 to 2017, served in the city council during Kesterson's eight-year tenure as mayor and paid tribute to his predecessor saying, "Lorna Kesterson was one of the finest ladies I've had the privilege of working with during my career in public service," said Hafen in a statement.