Dusty the Dusthole was a Clark County Department of Air Quality & Environmental Management mascot created in 2003 in Las Vegas, Nevada.[1] The character and his trademark slogan "Don't Be a Dusthole" were seen by millions of residents and tourists in the state of Nevada via a massive media push consisting of billboards, radio ads, public appearances, TV spots, and print coverage.[2]
Background
editIn 2003, in response to the threat of federal funding loss due to unacceptable levels of dust pollution in the Las Vegas Valley (which then were in violation of United States Environmental Protection Agency policy), the "Dusty" character and its associated campaigns were created by Nevada-based agency Thomas Puckett[3] in conjunction with the Clark County, Nevada Department of Air Quality & Environmental Management.
The character was portrayed by lifelong Las Vegas resident Alan Burd, who died in January 2024.[4] In the campaign's opening years, Burd was a common sight at various fairs and functions as the Dusty character.[5]
Within three years the campaign succeeded in raising awareness of dust and its serious contribution to the Las Vegas Valley air pollution issue.[6] $1.2-million in dust violation and other pollutant-related fines were channeled to the local school district during the period.[7]
Within a decade, the EPA declared the Las Vegas Valley "clean," meeting US federal standards for airborne dust particles. The "Don't Be a Dusthole" campaign---by then retired---was cited as a positive contributing factor,[8] and Henderson Home News declared the Dusthole character "(not) such a bad guy after all".[9]
References
edit- ^ "Dusty the Dusthole Ads Begin". The Las Vegas Sun. 25 September 2003. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
- ^ "$150,000 Ad Blitz Tries to Settle Dust". The Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012.
- ^ "Thomas Puckett: Clark County Department of Air Quality & Environmental Management". Thomas Puckett. Archived from the original on 2018-08-01. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
- ^ dUsTy-tHE-duStHoLe!, Internet Archive, 26 June 2023, retrieved 26 June 2024
- ^ "Actor Nothing Like His Dusty Character". The Las Vegas Review-Journal: View. Archived from the original on 15 January 2005.
- ^ "County Air Quality Hits Major Milestone: Aggressive Dust Control Measures Successful in Keeping Air Clean". Clark County, Nevada (Official). Archived from the original on 28 August 2007.
- ^ "'Dusty the Dusthole' Successful: Clark County Meets Federal Air Quality Standard Three Years Straight". The Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on 29 January 2007.
- ^ "EPA Says Dust Has Settled in Las Vegas". The Las Vegas Review-Journal. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
- ^ "Valley Lauded for Dust Control" (PDF). Henderson Home News. 17 January 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-01-26. Retrieved 24 January 2016.