Richard Robert "Rick" Rodriguez

Richard Robert
``Rick' Rodriguez
HARLINGEN, TX. -
Former Mayor of Harlingen Richard Robert ``Rick' Rodriguez, 55, died unexpectedly on Thursday, September 26, 2013.
Rick had not been ill and was out for his daily exercise but never made it home.
Rick was born in Harlingen to Guadalupe and Alicia Botello Rodriguez. He was the grandson of Don Pedro and Dona Petra Rodriguez who were a pioneering family of Harlingen (since before 1910). His father Guadalupe served in the U.S. Air Force and Rick lived in Germany and all over the United States during his childhood years. The family returned to Harlingen in 1972 and Rick graduated from Harlingen High School in 1976. He graduated with a J.D. from Thurgood Marshal School of Law, Houston in 1991 and with a B.A. in Political Science from St. Mary's University, San Antonio in 1980.
He is survived by his loving wife of 28 years Sonia Saldivar Rodriguez and his beautiful loving daughters Daniella, Adriana and Gabriella Rodriguez. Also his brothers Ruben Rodriguez, Rudy X. (Anita) Rodriguez, Michael (Leticia) Rodriguez, sister Rosie (Jimmy) Cantu, uncle Ray Botello, aunt Carolina Castillo, mother-in-law Imelda R. Saldivar and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Guadalupe and Alicia Rodriguez.
Rick always cared about his hometown of Harlingen, which prompted him to successfully run for city offices. He served the City of Harlingen community as a City Commissioner for two terms from 1998-2004 and as Mayor from 2004-2007.
When in office as a city leader, he was fair and levelheaded and always did what he believed was best for the community at large. He was passionate and devoted to seeing his community grow and be successful and enjoyed sharing his political views with family, friends and colleagues. He was also politically active in several State Representative, Gubernatorial, Senatorial, and Presidential campaigns.
Professionally Rick was an assistant district attorney for the Cameron County District Attorney's Office from August 1991 through January 1995. He then opened his private practice in 1995, The Law Office of Richard Rodriguez and practiced law until his death (2013).
Rick was a member of the State Bar of Texas since 1991, the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer Association (TCDLA) and the Cameron County Bar Association.
Rick loved to travel with his family, friends and colleagues and his strong Catholic faith guided him to religious places like Rome and Medjugorje numerous times. He was a Eucharistic minister at St. Anthony Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was also an avid reader of history, leadership and politics.
Everyone knew Rick as a family man. He was a devoted husband and his pride and joy were his gracious daughters Daniella, Adriana and Gabriella. He spent every moment possible with them and looked forward to seeing them reach their academic goals and to see them succeed. He knew his girls loved him very much and he was very proud of them.
A visitation will be held at 2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. on Sunday with a rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Funeral services will begin on Monday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Harlingen followed by the internment at Heavenly Grace Memorial Park in La Feria, Texas
Serving as pallbearers are Manny Vela, Rick Ledesma, Bobby Lerma, George Maldonado, Ramiro Resendez, and Tito Resendez.
Serving as honorary pall bearers are his brothers Ruben, Rudy and Michael Rodriguez, brothers-in-law Les Hodgson, Aron Waisman, Humberto Saldivar, Jr., Jimmy Cantu and nephew Miguel Ricoy.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to St. Anthony Catholic Church, Harlingen.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Trinity at Harrison Funeral Home, 1002 East Harrison Avenue, Harlingen, Texas 78550. (956) 364-2444.
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