Nevada's first Black senator, Joe Neal, has died Former State Senator Joseph M. Neal, Jr., D-North Las Vegas, died on New Year's Eve, according to a statement from his family. Posted at 10:36 AM, Jan 01, 2021 and last updated 2021-01-01 21:57:15-05 LAS VEGAS (KTNV) â Former State Senator Joseph M. Neal, Jr., D-North Las Vegas, died on New Year's Eve, according to a statement from his family. "My Dad, after a long-fought battle, succumbed to an illness," stated his daughter, Sen. Dina Neal, D-North Las Vegas. "He passed away at 10:25 p.m. Dec. 31 at Dignity Health, Sienna Campus, in Henderson, where he received the best care, surrounded by family," she added.