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Legislative Biography -- 72nd (2003) 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: Dale Checket.

Children: Leslie Ann Righetti, Tracy Lynn Woodring, Mark William Raggio (deceased 2004).

Military: USNR; USMCR, Second Lieutenant, 1944‑1946.

Hobbies/Special Interests: Hunting, fishing, golf.

Legislative Service: Nevada Senate, 1973‑2003—five special and sixteen regular sessions (longest Senate service in Nevada history); Senate Majority Floor Leader, 1987‑1989, 1993‑2001; Senate Minority Floor Leader, 1977‑1979, 1983‑1986, 1991. Legislative Commission: Alternate, 1985‑1988, 1991‑1993; Member, 1973‑1975, 1977‑1979. Interim Finance Committee: Member, 1985‑1986, 1991‑1992; Vice Chairman, 1987‑1988, 1995-1996, 1999-2000; Chairman, 1988‑1990, 1993-1994, 1997-1998; Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, 1987-1989, 1993-2001; Chairman, Legislative Committee on Education, 1997-1999, 2001 to present.

Affiliations: State Bar of Nevada; Washoe County Bar Assn.; Amer. Judicature Society; Intl. Academy of Law & Science; Amer. Trial Lawyers Assn.; 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, 1979‑1982; Director, Sierra Health Services; Partner, Jones Vargas, Reno/Las Vegas; Executive Advisory Board, E. L. Wiegand Foundation; American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), Bd. of Directors 1983 to present, National Chairman, 1993; Director, Archon Corp.

Personal and Professional Achievements: U.S.: District Court–NV; Court of Appeals–9th Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court. Asst. DA, Washoe Co., 1952‑1958; DA, Washoe Co., 1958‑1970; House of Delegates, American Bar Assn., 1967‑1970; State Chairman, Junior Bar Conference, 1957‑1960. NV State DA Assn.: Pres., 1960‑1963; Secretary, 1959‑1960. Natl. DA’s Assn.: Bd. of Directors, 1961‑1970; V.P., 1961‑1966; Pres., 1967‑1968; Hon. Life Member, 1970. Fellow, Amer. College of Trial Lawyers; Bd. of Trustees, Washoe Co. Community Action Program, 1964‑1967; Reno Bd. of Directors, Natl. Conference of Christians & Jews, 1966‑1970, 1983‑1987; 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. 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, 1965; 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, 1998-2000; 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; President, Education Foundation, Inc. (Washoe County School Dist.); Education Leadership Award, TMCC, 1999; UNR Athletic Foundation, Jake Lawlor Award, 1999; Distinguished Service Award, UNR Alumni, 1997; President’s Medal, UNLV, 2000; Nevada Law Foundation; Civic Leader of Year Award, Greater Reno Chamber of Commerce, 1999; Headline Maker of Year Award, Reno Media Press Club, 2001; Certificate of Appreciation, Natl. Rifle Assn., 2002; Papal Honor Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, 2002; Honoree, Knight of Camelot, Opportunity Village, Las Vegas, 2002; Dedications: College of Education Bldg. and William J. Raggio Math and Science Center, UNR; Raggio Parkway and William J. Raggio Plaza, Reno; High Tech Center, Western High School, Las Vegas. Induction into Chapel of Four Chaplains and inscription of name on Legion of Honor Wall in the Chapel at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (fifth Nevadan so honored), 2002.