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March 29, 2024 5:46 am
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Schwartz Killed In Elko Hit-and-Run

By VERNON ROBISON

Moapa Valley Progress

Doug Schwartz
Doug Schwartz

Many Moapa Valley residents were shocked and saddened last week to hear of the untimely death of a former neighbor, community leader and friend.
Former Logandale resident Doug Schwartz was killed on Wednesday night, June 22, when he was struck by a car while crossing the street in front of a restaurant in Elko, Nevada.

Schwartz, who lived in nearby Spring Creek, had been meeting with a group of people in the restaurant just prior to the incident, according to a report from the Elko Daily Free Press, As he exited the restaurant and crossed the street to his own vehicle, he was hit by a motorist who then fled the scene without stopping.

The suspected driver was later identified as Daniel Vasu and was booked by authorities on charges of a felony hit and run and vehicular manslaughter.

Schwartz, 58, and his wife Diane, had moved to Spring Creek about three years ago from Logandale to take the position of Executive Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer at the Elko Federal Credit Union. In July 2015, Schwartz took over as president and CEO of the same credit union.

Before that Schwartz had spent 19 years as CEO of the Moapa Valley Federal Credit Union (MVFCU). In that position he led the local institution through a period of unprecedented change and growth.
“Doug took us from a small rural credit union to a very vibrant institution,” said Overton resident Lance Robertson who served on the MVFCU board of directors throughout all of Schwartz’s tenure there. “During that time we tripled in size and there were huge changes to the services that we offered to our members.”

Robertson said that Schwartz always stayed current in the world of financial services.
“He always knew what new things were going on to make the experience better for our members,” Robertson said. “And he knew what direction we needed to be going and what we needed to get done to be prepared to move forward.”

Robertson said that one of the things that set Schwartz apart was that he was committed to both the institution and to its people.
“What I liked most about him was that he cared: about the credit union, about his staff and about the people,” Robertson said. “So he always tried to maintain a balance on everything.”

Robertson recalled a time when the MVFCU was making changes to its retirement program. The company supplying the services had presented a number of different options that were before the board of directors.
“I remember that he took a lower option for himself so that the staff could have a higher option,” Robertson recalled. “He just cared about everybody and he was not about taking the job just for himself.”

In July 2012, when the MVFCU ran into some financial difficulties, the local institution was finally merged with the America First Credit Union. That was particularly difficult for Schwartz, Robertson recalled.
“He handled the transition with grace under fire,” Robertson said. “We could see where the federal auditors were pushing us, even though some of us felt like we could have turned it around still. But he could see the writing on the wall before any of us. He brought up the topic that we needed to merge so that we could continue to bring services to the valley and take care of the employees. That is what he was most concerned about throughout the transition.”

Schwartz was also a supporter of community programs and events. He instituted a tradition of strong support for the community traditions and activities at the MVFCU. That tradition has been carried on through the America First Credit Union to this day, Robertson said.
Robertson pointed to support for school organizations, programs and sports; sponsorships of performing arts councils and the Clark County Fair; and major donations to the community’s July 4th fireworks display each year.

Schwartz also spent his own time actively involved in community events and programs during his years living in Logandale. In 1994, shortly after moving to the community, he started working at the Clark County Fair as a volunteer in the position of Assistant Rodeo Director. In 1996 he was appointed to the Clark County Fair Board of Directors. He took over as Director of the Rodeo in 1998 and continued in that position until the current time.

Fair Director Todd Robison said that, since his move to Spring Creek, Schwartz had used vacation time from work to come down and manage the rodeo at the Fair each year.
“His influence on the Fair and Rodeo has been huge,” Robison said. “That is a pair of boots that you are just never going to be able to fill.”

Robison said that Schwartz, more than anything, enjoyed being involved in the Moapa Valley community.
“He loved this community and it was difficult for him to go to Elko,” Robison said. “Though he did make a lot of friends up there and he was doing really well there, he told me that the hardest thing was for him to leave the people and friends here.”
“The greatest loss in all of this is that he was such an asset to any community that he was engaged in,” Robison added. “There were no strangers to Doug. He knew everyone and he easily developed a comfort level with whoever he was with. We will miss him greatly!”

Schwartz was also devoted to the development of the youth in the Moapa Valley community; and contributed to programs that strived to do just that. For about seven years, he volunteered as a member of the coaching staff at the Moapa Valley High School Football team. As such he worked with the team through periods of tremendous success.
“He would take his personal time off of work to help with football practices,” remembered MVHS head football coach Brent Lewis. “It was just countless hours that he put in of volunteer time for the kids and the program.”

Lewis said that Schwartz was able to form strong ties with the youth on the team like few others could.
“I have talked to some of the kids that played for him and they have all told me how personable he was with them,” Lewis said. “He made them feel important and special. He was always upbeat and positive. They just loved him and they loved to play for him because he was passionate. He showed his emotions when things were good or bad.”

Lewis said that Schwartz became fiercely loyal to the Pirate team. In the years after he moved, the coaches in Elko had reportedly approached Schwartz asking him to help with coaching the program in Elko, Lewis said.
“Doug told them, no, that he couldn’t do it,” Lewis said. “He said that he was just too loyal to the Pirates and the only team that he would ever coach for again would be the Pirates.”
My heart is just broken with this news,” Lewis concluded. “He was such a good man.”

The funeral for Doug Schwartz will be held on Friday, July 1, 2016 at 11:00 am in the Logandale LDS Stake Center on St. Joseph Street.
In addition, the Clark County Fair will be hosting a community luncheon/BBQ on Friday after the funeral from 2:30 – 5:30 pm in the Fine Arts Building at the Clark County Fairgrounds. All family and friends are invited to attend the BBQ in honor of Schwartz.

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1 thought on “Schwartz Killed In Elko Hit-and-Run”

  1. As a resident of Spring Creek it didn’t take long to know and love Doug and Diane. Sending my love and prayers. ❤️

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