Legislative Biography -- 73rd (2005) Session
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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, 1973-2005-—eight special and seventeen regular sessions (longest Senate service in Nevada history); Senate Majority Floor Leader, 1987-1989, 1993-2005; 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, 2003-2004; Chairman, 1988-1990, 1993-1994, 1997-1998, 2001-2002; Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, 1987-1989, 1993-2005; Chairman, Legislative Committee on Education, 1997-1999, 2001-2003.
Nevada Senate, 1973-2005-—eight special and seventeen regular sessions (longest Senate service in Nevada history); Senate Majority Floor Leader, 1987-1989, 1993-2005; 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, 2003-2004; Chairman, 1988-1990, 1993-1994, 1997-1998, 2001-2002; Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, 1987-1989, 1993-2005; Chairman, Legislative Committee on Education, 1997-1999, 2001-2003.
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.
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, 22nd 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.
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, 22nd 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.
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