William J. Raggio
Office: Washoe County Senate District 3 including west Reno, the north valleys, Verdi and part of rural Washoe County
Party: Republican
Legislative assignments: Senate Majority Leader, chairman of Senate Finance Committee, vice chairman Legislative Operations and Elections and member of Government Affairs committees
Office: 1221
Legislative phone: (775) 684-1419
Office phone: (775) 786-5000
Address: P.O. Box 281
Reno, NV 89504-0281
E-mail: wraggio@sen.state.nv.us
Legislative service: elected Senate 1973-2008, longest Senate service in state history; Senate Majority Floor Leader 10 times: 1987-89, 1993-08; Senate Minority Floor Leader 1977-79, 1983-86, 1991, Legislative Commission 1973-76, 1977-80, Interim Finance Committee 1985-2008 including chairman six times
Occupation: lawyer
Born: Oct. 30, 1926
Education: Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nevada, Juris Doctorate from Boalt Hall, UC Berkeley and Hastings College of Law
Family: wife, Dale Checket; children Leslie Ann Righetti, Tracy Lynn Fernandes, Mark William Raggio (deceased)
Hobbies/Special Interests: hunting, fishing, golf
Personal and professional achievements: Prospectors Club, Reno Host Lion's Club, District Attorney of Washoe County 1958-70, president of National District Attorneys Association in 1967-68, Young Man of the Year by the Reno-Sparks Junior Chamber of Commerce 1959, Republican candidate U.S. Senate 1970, Republican candidate Lieutenant Governor 1974, national chairman of American Legislative Exchange Council board of directors 1992-present, National Distinguished Eagle award from Boy Scouts of America in 1989, Torch of Liberty Award ADL of B'nai B'rith, Grand Pioneer Award Northern Nevada Black Cultural Awareness Society 1998, Nevada Prosecution Advisory Council Award 1998, Outstanding Alumnus University of Nevada, Reno 1999, Lifetime Achievement Award, National Italian American Foundation, annual Honor Award American Lung Association 2000, Nicholas Horn Award from the Nevada Medical Association in 2000 for distinguished contributions to health care and medicine, certificate of appreciation, National Rifle Association 2002, Papal Honor Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, 2002. Dedications include: College of Education Building and William J. Raggio Math and Science Center at UNR, Raggio parkway and William J. Raggio Plaza in Reno, High Tech center, Western High School in Las Vegas