>>Brian Sandoval: As a kid, I loved history and I really admired Abraham Lincoln because he came from nothing.

>>Teri Sandoval: He's read almost every book he could have his hands on about Abraham Lincoln.

I think because he admired how President Lincoln conducted himself and how he handled being in one of the most difficult times in our history.

>>Steve Guinn: My favorite Abraham Lincoln, quote applies to Brian perfectly, and that is, “I don't like that man.

I must get to know him better.

” That's Brian in a nutshell.

>>Lauralyn Sandoval: Whenever we have a road trip, we pick Audible books.

We generally pick some kind of historic book, generally.

>>Brian Sandoval: If you read a lot of history, you'll see that some of the issues that we face now are not unique.

>>Len Savage: God only knows why anybody would be in public service, but he knows that it's for the betterment of the people.

>>Rick Trachok: He took over as governor and the state was on its knees at the depths of the horrible recession.

>>Larry Hicks: A two term governor who turned this state around at a very difficult time.

>>Richard Bryan: He is the antithesis of some of the polarization that's occurring now, not only in the state of Nevada, but in the country.

>>Rick Trachok: Because of his refusal to get mired in the petty politics that that we see today, the divisiveness we see today, he was able to accomplish so much.

>>Dale Erquiaga: People offend you when you're governor or they do things that you don't agree with on a partizan level.

And I would say like, “Can't we just like not sign this bill because this person is mean or can't we just not do this thing?

” And he would sort of puff up and say, “Dale, that's not why we're here.

We're stewards.

” And I would say, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know.

But just once, couldn't you do something, you know, polarizing and mean?

” He didnt have it in him and I really appreciate that.

I've worked for some mean people in my life and he is not one of them.

He remembers where he came from.

And I think that's pretty rare in politics.

>>Ron Sandoval: Our home life growing up, I think fairly routine.

We had to be responsible.

You know, we had sheep to feed, we had the house to clean.

And my mom used to make little cards on, here's all your chores for the day.

You couldn't do anything till your chores were done.

>>Teri Sandoval: Brian had to work on a positive self-image, and through the years, he's found out how important that is.

>>Brian Sandoval: I lived out in the country and was a little embarrassed about that.

Lived on a dirt road.

In fact, when had asked friends for a ride home, I would tell them that I lived in this neighborhood where there was paved streets, and then I'd walk the rest of the way home because I was embarrassed.

Every morning my brother and my job was to feed and water the sheep and at times we had to hold on to them and that lamb smell would get on us and we wouldn't have time to change.

And so I'd come to school and we'd get a hard time, a little bit from some of the kids that I went to school with.

>>Teri Sandoval: He was the son of two government workers.

We were middle class and we weren't famous.

So and he didn't go to a fancy boarding school in the east.

He went to a wonderful school called Little Flower.

And he he was happy there.

I think that these days set the foundation of where Brian was going to go in public service.

He started there from the beginning and realized who he was and what he wanted to do.

>>Brian Sandoval: So I tell our students, because sometimes they feel the same way.

They have imposter syndrome.

And I tell them every experience you have in life is going to benefit you down the road.

So no matter where you came from and no matter, you know, whether you're a first gen student or what have you be proud of who you are.

Having had the benefit of, you know, looking back, you know, it was really a great way to grow up.

And I'm really thankful to my parents.

And it wasn't at the time fun, but I really learned about the value of hard work and living, so to speak, off the land.

One of my friends had done an internship with Senator Paul Laxalt, and just to put it in perspective, back then, it was 1984.

Paul Laxalt was best friends with Ronald Reagan, who was president of the United States at the time.

They had been governors of Nevada and California, so they were very close.

Paul Laxalt was a real icon and I didn't think I had a chance because there were no politicians in our family, you know, no famous people in our family.

But I thought, you know what, I'm going to apply and we'll see what happens.

You had to write a personal statement in your application to become an intern in Washington, D.C. for Paul Laxalt.

I was selected and I couldn't believe it.

I was so excited.

But he told me later on that the reason he chose me is because I raise sheep.

And if you know Nevada history, Paul Laxalts father immigrated from the Basque country and was a sheepherder.

>>Lauralyn Sandoval: So it turns out that the thing that made him think that maybe things would not be possible is actually the thing that made everything possible.

>>Brian Sandoval: Tha experience changed my life.

>>Dale Erquiaga: I used to love to watch Brian go to schools or when young people would come into the governor's office when we worked together there.

And he would always say to them, You should want to do something, not be something.

>>Larry Hicks: I know when he started as he started as a young attorney.

He had no plans or thoughts of running for office as an assemblyman in the state or becoming the attorney general for the state or serving on the Nevada Gaming Commission.

I'm sure that every one of those were new developments for him.

>>Steve Guinn: Brian wouldnt have got to where he is today without taking risks.

>>Larry Hicks: His leaving the federal court to run for the governorship of the state of Nevada, a federal judgeship is a lifetime appointment.

We judges do not have to run for election.

We do not have to answer to anyone other than the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Constitution of the United States of America.

>>Steve Guinn: Brian was appointed to be a federal judge.

He achieved the absolute pinnacle in his profession.

Every lawyer in America would give anything to get that position.

>>Brian Krolicki: No one does that.

You don't leave a lifetime appointment to the federal bench, to chase, a political high risk, you know, career change.

But he did.

>>Steve Guinn: He said, I think I can make a difference.

And coming out of the mouth of anybody else, that would sound corny and cliched, coming out of the mouth of Brian Sandoval, that rang true.

>> Kent Robison: Despite the pleasant demeanor and the humility that he exudes,there's this undeniable determination that he cannot suppress.

And he tries, but it's there.

>>Rick Reviglio: OK, you see the Hollywood smile?

You see the good looks, but behind that is a fierce competitor.

>>Greg Ferraro: I think he's a great role model for younger Nevadans who can recognize that that opportunity is abundant, if you apply yourself, you take risks and you do it, for some other reason than your own personal advancement.

>>Teri Sandoval: Family comes first.

>>Ron Sandoval: Cares about his family, has a very full life Trying to manage that.

I think he finds the difficulties in that.

You know, with so many people wanting his attention.

>>Teri Sandoval: Brian and Lauralyn are two successful professionals and they are devoted to one another.

>>Eathan O'Bryant: They hold hands more than anyone ever.

>>Brian Krolicki: I bet you right now at the dinner, that people are watching this, Lauralyn and Brian are holding hands under the table.

You mean they are high school ish and they just mean they love each other.

>>Brian Sandoval: As president of the university, every decision I make, it's not going to make everybody happy, but it's to make it the best university it can possibly be.

And sometimes students are mad at me, Sometimes faculty are mad at me, sometimes staff are mad at me.

>>Steve Guinn: Brian used to say to me when he was was first on the bench and then later as governor and even now as president, he said, “It's almost guaranteed that any decision I make is going to offend 50% of the people.

It's unavoidable, but I have to make the decision.

I have to do what I think in my own conscience is the right thing to do, and I have to take those lumps.

” >>Eathan O'Bryant: I think the best advice he's ever gave me was that, “If you pleasing everyone then youre lying to someone.

” >>Steve Guinn: I always tell people, if you don't like Brian Sandoval, spend 5 minutes with him in the hallway at a football game, in his office.

You'll like him.

>>Eathan O'Bryant: I don't think he's ever met a stranger.

>>Brian Sandoval: I never got to meet a governor when I was a kid.

And so it's really important to me whether I'm in Costco, Home Depot, the grocery store, the mall, what have you.

If somebody stops me, that I say hello to them.

And particularly with kids.

Everybody's important.

Everyone should have attention.

Everyone's a part of this community.

>>Brian Krolicki: Brian Sandoval is one of the most authentic people I've ever met.

You know, what you see is what you get.

>>Dale Erquiaga: I think Brian Sandoval is a humble person, and I don't think it's the fake sort of what my friends call the face bragging on social media, where you're pretending that you're humble, but really you're bragging.

He really is a humble person, and I think it surprises him every time a new opportunity comes his way and he's successful.

>>Steve Guinn: He will downplay everything he's accomplished in life almost to a fault.

He doesn't have awards all over his office.

He doesn't have a trophy room.

He doesn't have any of that because he doesn't want that.

He values relationships.

He values accomplishments.

He values substance.

>>Rick Reviglio: There's a great saying, and it says “If someone said something negative about you live a life that no one would believe it.

” Brian Sandoval has lived that life.