Joseph M. Neal spent his lifetime working to improve education. He moved to Las Vegas in the 1950s after serving in the Air Force. He was the first African-American State Senator in Nevada and served from 1972 to 2004. He was the longest-serving state senator in Nevada history. He chaired the Legislative Human Resources Committee and dealt with issues regarding schools and children throughout the state. Senator Neal worked on the bill that allowed the creation of a funding source for the state library system.
Joseph M. Neal Elementary School opened in 1999.
