Legislative Biography -- 71st (2001) Session

WILLIAM J. RAGGIO

Republican

Washoe County Senatorial

District No. 3

Attorney at Law

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

Born:  1926; Reno, Nevada.

Educated:  Louisiana Tech; University of Oklahoma; University of Nevada, Reno, B.A.; University of California, Hastings College of Law, J.D.; University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law.

Married:  Dorothy Brigman (deceased).

Children:  Leslie Ann Righetti, Tracy Lynn Woodring, Mark William Raggio.

Military:  USNR; USMCR, Second Lieutenant, 1944-46.

Hobbies/Special Interests:  Hunting, fishing, golf.

Legislative Service:  Nevada Senate, 1973-2001--three special and 15 regular sessions (longest Senate service in Nevada history); Senate Majority Floor Leader, 1987-89, 1993-2001; Senate Minority Floor Leader, 1977-79, 1983-86, 1991.  Legislative Commission:  Alternate, 1985-88, 1991-93; Member, 1973-75, 1977-79.  Interim Finance Committee:  Member, 1985-86, 1991-92; Vice Chairman, 1987-88, 1995-96, 1999-2000; Chairman, 1988-90, 1993-94, 1997-98; Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, 1987-89, 1993-2001; Chairman, Legislative Committee on Education, 1997-99.

 

Affiliations:  State Bar of NV; Washoe Co. Bar Assn.; Amer. Judicature Society; Intl. Academy of Law & Science; Amer. Trial Lawyers Assn.; Adv. Bd., Salvation Army; Alpha Tau Omega; Phi Alpha Delta; Elks; Republican St. Central Cmte.; Washoe Co. Republican Central Cmte.; Reno (Host) Lions Club; American Legion; Prospectors; Amer. Bd. of Criminal Lawyers, 1979-82; V.P./Director, Sahara Resorts/Sahara Las Vegas Corp.; Director, Sierra Health Services; Partner, Jones Vargas, Reno/Las Vegas; Executive Advisory Board, E. L. Wiegand Foundation; American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

 

Personal and Professional Achievements:  U.S.:  District Court--NV; Court of Appeals--9th Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court.  Asst. DA, Washoe Co., 1952-58; DA, Washoe Co., 1958-70; House of Delegates, American Bar Assn., 1967-70; State Chairman, Junior Bar Conference, 1957-60.  NV State DA Assn.:  Pres., 1960-63; Secretary, 1959-60.  Natl. DA's Assn.:  Bd. of Directors, 1961-70; V.P., 1961-66; Pres., 1967-68; Hon. Life Member, 1970.  Fellow, Amer. College of Trial Lawyers; Bd. of Trustees, Washoe Co. Community Action Program, 1964-67; Reno Bd. of Directors, Natl. Conference of Christians & Jews, 1966-70, 1983-87; Republican nominee, U.S. Senate, 1970; Republican nominee, Lt. Governor, 1974; "Young Man of the Year," Reno-Sparks Jr. Chamber of Commerce, 1959; Brotherhood Award, NCCJ, 1965; Distinguished Service Award, NV Council on Crime & Delinquency, 1970; Columbus Day Cmte., 1967; Truth in Action Award, World Assn. of Detectives, 1967; Fellows Award, Natl. Salvation Army; Honoree, Better Business Bureau of No. NV, 1971; Torch of Liberty Award, ADL of B'nai B'rith, 1985; Hon. Membership, Intl. Assn. of Firefighters, Local 731.  ALEC:  Bd. of Directors, 1983-present; Natl. Chairman, 1992-present.  Criminal Law & Admin. of Justice Cmte., CSG; NV American Revolution Bicentennial Commission; Old College of Reno Bd. of Trustees; Law & Justice Cmte., NCSL; Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates; Master, Inns of Court.  Citizen of Year, NV Judges Assn., 1987; BSA:  National Distinguished Eagle Award, 1989; Eagle of the Year Award, 1988.  NCSL Leaders Award, 1988; Honoree, Nevada Lung Assn., 1990; Hall of Fame, Washoe County Regional Transportation Commission, 1990; Excellence in Public Service, NTLA, 1990; Outstanding Graduate Award, Washoe Co. Teachers Assn.; Outstanding Prosecutor in the United States; SIR Award, Associated General Contractors of Northern Nevada, 1994; Senate Majority Leader of Year, National Republican Legislators Assn., 1995; Nevada Society of Respiratory Care, 1995; Honorary Membership, Legislative Conservationist of the Year, NV Wildlife Federation, 1996; Life Member, Friends of College of Education, UNR, 1996; Guardian of Small Business Award, NFIB, 1996; Landsman Assn. Award, S.F., 1996; Golden Hand Award, Natl. Assn. of the Deaf, 1997; Italian American of Year Award, Augustus Society, Las Vegas, 1997; No. NV Legislator of Year, NAIB, 1997; NV VAD Presidential Award, 1997; Silver Baron Honoree, American Cancer Society, 1998; Hispanics in Politics Award, Las Vegas, 1998; Grand Pioneer Award, No. NV Black Cultural Awareness Society, 1998; NV Prosecution Advisory Council Award, 1998; Who's Who in America, 1998; Outstanding Alumnus, University of Nevada, Reno, 1999; Junior Achievement Hall of Fame Award, 1999; Lifetime Achievement Award, National Italian American Foundation, 1999; recipient, 22^nd Annual Honor Award, American Lung Association, 2000; Nicholas J. Horn Award, Nevada Medical Association in Recognition of Distinguished Contributions to Health Care and Medicine in Nevada, 2000.