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University of Nevada Reno’s Center for Basque Studies will be renamed after co-founder William A. Douglass, and the center’s library will adopt the name of the late Jon Bilbao, who also started the institution. The official event will be held on November the 3rd, at the university’s Student Union. “It’s very exciting for us. We think it’s a very appropriate way to recognize their contributions as founders,” said Sandra Ott, co-director of the CBS, in a conversation with EuskalKultura.com.

Reno, NV.  Bibliographer Jon Bilbao and anthropologist William A. Douglass, co-founders of the Center for Basque Studies at the University of Nevada Reno, will fuse their futures forever with the institution they created almost fifty years ago, as the Center's Advisory Board decided to rename the center and its library after them. The Center will be given the name of the latter while the Library will be renamed after Mr. Bilbao, at an event to be held at the university’s Student Union next Tuesday, November 3, starting at 4:00 p.m.

“It’s very exciting for us. We think it’s a very appropriate way to recognize their contributions as founders,” said Sandra Ott, co-director of the Center. And she added: “The Advisory Board proposed the idea to president (Mark) Johnson, and he welcomed it. He has been to the Basque Country with us twice, and he understands the major contribution they made.” As Ott explained, the idea of renaming the library after Mr. Bilbao came from Dr. Douglass himself, because “he could’ve not done what he did without Jon Bilbao’s help.”

Guests of honor

Sandra Ott will MC the event that begins at 4pm  at the Student Union.  Ott will introduce guests of honor including:UNR president Mark Johnson; John Echeverria, who served as the first chairman of the Center’s Advisory Board; and even Jon Bilbao’s son, who will fly from the Basque Country for this special occasion. Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval will also attend to acknowledge Dr. Douglass’ and Mr. Bilbao’s contributions to the state.

Douglass will also be present at the event and will give a speech, after which a 4-5 minutes video that includes some old time pictures of Bilbao, Douglass, and the people that have worked with them through the years, will be shown. A wine reception will close the evening.