Bob Houston

Robert E. Houston arrived in Reno, Nevada in 1955. He met and married Flora shortly after arriving in Nevada. They were blessed with two children, Robert, Jr. and Kim. Bob is a military veteran, serving in the Air Force after arriving in the state. In 1964 he became Reno’s first African American police officer, which opened the door for more people of color to join the Reno Police Department.

After retiring from the Reno Police Department, he started a second career with the Donrey Outdoor Advertising Company as their Construction Foreman. Mr. Robert E. Houston has received awards for his community achievements from the City of Reno, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Northern Nevada Black Cultural Awareness Society (NNBCAS) and the Second Baptist Church.