Edward Leonard Dodrill

Ed’s Obit – Don’t be in a hurry to use it! (You may have to change the date)

Retired journalist Edward L. Dodrill died September 1, 2026 at the age of 88. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, November 16, 1937. He began his career with the New York Journal of Commerce as a messenger boy. He resigned as commodities editor 13 years later to accept the job of assistant city editor of the Allentown Morning Call. He moved to Las Vegas at the suggestion of doctors, arriving in the summer of 1972.

He worked for a number of publications in Nevada, including the Las Vegas Sun newspaper. While serving in the U.S. Army at Fort Sill Oklahoma, he was assigned to the Fort Sill newspaper. He was with the public relations department of Central Telephone Company during the historic MGM Grand Hotel fire Nov. 21, 1980. He supplied the media with dozens of phone numbers to help people locate displaced guests. Those numbers were flashed on television screens around the world. Phone company crews installed more than 40 telephone lines for emergency responders before noon on that day. He repeated that chore on Feb. 10, 1981 when a fire caused havoc at the Las Vegas Hilton.

An avid horseman, he worked diligently to enable local citizens to have trails for not only horses, but walkers, hikers and bicyclists. He served terms as president of the Southern Nevada Regional Trail Partnership, The Horse Council of Nevada and Las Vegas Equestrian Events. He contributed to trail efforts throughout Clark County and even provided guidance to trail projects in Caliente.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Georgina Pataki, three sons, Colt, an attorney in Phoenix, Garrett, a member of the Henderson fire department and Chris, a retired U.S. Army trumpeter and sound engineer, his two brothers, Albert Thomas and Christopher as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Marion (Hallberg) Dodrill, his brothers Fred and James, his former wife and mother of his children, Evelyn (Blenkin) Cake.

A private graveside service was held at Palm Mortuary on S. Eastern Avenue.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Sunday afternoon, September 27th, to celebrate his life. Please email Georgina at [email protected] to receive details about the celebration.