Raúl G. Villaronga
Encyclopedia
Colonel Raúl G. Villaronga (born April 1, 1938) is a retired United States Army
officer who has the distinction of being the first Puerto Rican
mayor
of a Texas
city. He was elected Mayor of Killeen, Texas
in 1992.
, was the second of three children born to Raul Gil Villaronga Pasarell, an accountant with the Puerto Rico Iron Works who once served in the United States Army
, and Maria Monserrate Martinez Perez, a school teacher and a housewife. At a young age, his family moved to St Croix, Virgin Islands
where his father worked as an accountant for a distillery. In Christiansted, he began his elementary school education. After a few years his family returned to Puerto Rico, and he was enrolled in the public school system of Ponce. During his early teen years he attended the Catholic Seminary
(Casa Manresa) in the town of Aibonito, Puerto Rico for two years and studied ancient Greek
and Latin. Villaronga returned to school at the Colegio Ponceño de Varones in Ponce, and on his senior year, transferred to Ponce High School (the "original" Ponce High School), from which he graduated in 1954.
During his high school years, he joined the Civil Air Patrol
and was a member of the National Champion Ponce Drill Team
. This experience served as an influential factor in his decision as to which college/university he would attend. He enrolled in Texas A&M University
because of its military environment, and immediately enrolled in the institution's Air Force ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) program. In 1954, Villaronga met his future wife, Julia Bush. After his freshman year he returned to Puerto Rico for one year after which he returned once more to Texas A&M University and this time joined the Army ROTC Program. Villaronga married Julia in 1958 during his senior year. In 1959, he earned his Bachelor of Science
in Industrial Engineering
and was commissioned as an Infantry
Second Lieutenant of the U.S. Army.
, U.S. state of Georgia on April 3, 1960 for his basic training
. Upon the completion of his basic training, he attended the Infantry Officer's Basic Course and Basic Airborne
Course. In December 1960, he was assigned as Platoon Leader in the 1st Battle Group, 87th Infantry and then 2nd BG, 23rd Infantry
at Fort Benning. On October 3, 1961, Villaronga was promoted to First Lieutenant and underwent intense combat training during the Berlin Crisis
. In 1962, he took the Special Forces Officer's Course and served from March 1962 to November 1962 as Special Forces Officer
at the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg
, North Carolina
. He underwent extensive mountain training in West Virginia
and jungle operations training at Eglin Air Force Base
(Air Commandos).
From 1963 to 1965, Villaronga was assigned to the 8th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Gulick
in the Panama Canal Zone
where he served in several classified Counterinsurgency Missions which included an assignment in 1965 of Commander of Detachment XX, 8th Special Forces Group, in Central
and South America
in which he conducted training for American
and Latin American soldiers in Basic, Jumpmaster, Rigger, and Pathfinder Courses. During his stay in the Canal Zone, Villaronga continued his military preparation by studying Portuguese
at the Defense Language Institute
and Jungle Warfare
Operations. Villaronga was promoted to Captain on October 26, 1964.
where he served two tours during the Vietnam War
. From July to September 1966, he served as the Adjutant of the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment(Airborne). From October 1966 through July 1967, he served as Company Commander, Co B, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment (Airborne).761st
When he return to the United States, Villaronga served as Special Warfare Instructor, U.S. Army Quartermaster School and as Supply Systems Instructor, US Army Quartermaster School from September 1967 to December 1969 at Fort Lee, in Virginia
. During this period of time he was promoted to major
(October 26, 1967) and completed the Supply Management Course and ADP Systems Analysis Course.
During the 1970s, he completed the Logistics Executive Development Course and served in various positions in the military. He returned to the Republic of Vietnam and served as Logistics Staff Officer, 29th General Support Group and as the Battalion Executive Officer, 266 Supply and Service Battalion.
, Pennsylvania
where until November 1976 he served in the following positions: Chief, Plans & Programs, and Manpower, Defense Depot; Chief, Management Support Office, Defense Depot and Chief, Transportation Division, Defense Deport. During this period (1973) Villaronga earned his Masters degree in Industrial Engineering
from Texas Tech University
and also completed the following courses: Defense Language Institute
(German
) and the Brigade, Battalion Commanders Course. On January 1, 1976 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
. From November 1976 to October 1979, he served in Europe
as Commander, 66th Maintenance Battalion in Kaiserslautern
, Germany
and later as Plans & Operation Officer, 7th Support Command.
In November 1979, Villaronga was assigned to New Cumberland
, Pennsylvania
where he served as Logistics Staff Officer, U.S. Army Logistics Evaluation Agency. In 1980, he attended the Command & General Staff College and on November 1, 1981 he was promoted to Colonel
. On June 1983, Villaronga was sent to Fort Hood, Texas
where he served as Deputy Commander, 13th Support Command and later as Director of Instrumentation, US Army TCATA until August 1985. On August 1, 1985, Colonel Villaronga retired from the United States Army.
where he taught Logistics, Math and Computer Science. Unable to get a full time position as a professor because he lacked a Masters in Education, he decided to work as a consultant for the Department of Defense
and later for Brown & Root Services Corporation in Houston. Villaronga applied and was hired by the Texas Attorney General
's Office in Austin
, and served with the Child Support Enforcement Division. He designed and implemented a Case Tracking System that provided visibility as to what was happening to cases in each of the organizations involved with CSED.
Villaronga became interested in an ongoing situation between the citizens of Killeen and the members of the Killeen City Council
which involved the building of a Convention Center and as a result ran for City Council member in 1989. He served a 2-year term as City Council member until 1991.
In 1992, Villaronga successfully ran for Mayor of Killeen." Villaronga, the first Puerto Rican to be elected Mayor of a Texas city was sworn in office June 20, 1992. He eventually resigned from the OAG after serving his first term as Mayor. As mayor, he served as the head of the City of Killeen government for all ceremonial purposes, and for the purposes of military law
. Along with the council members, he was responsible for soliciting citizen views in forming these policies and interpreting them to the public. Villaronga successfully served for 3 consecutive terms and in 1998 stepped down as Mayor in accordance to the term limits established by the City Charter. During the years in which Villaronga served as Mayor, he was involved and responsible for the implementation of the following:
, Veterans of Foreign Wars
, and the American Legion
. He is also a member of the League of United Latin American Citizens
(LULAC) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP). Villaronga and his wife are on the Board of Directors of Killeen Crime Stoppers, Inc., and they are both members of the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce. They both serve as Chamber Ambassadors, which are the "visible" face of the Chamber in promoting business and growth. Among the many awards bestowed upon Villaronga was The 2003 Exchange Club of Killeen Golden Deeds Award. On December 3, 2007, Villaronga, chairman of LULAC's Killeen Foundation, helped organize an event which honored both, the "Borinqueneers" (the 65th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army) composed almost entirely of Puerto Ricans that fought in the Korean War
and Kenneth McClintock
, the President of the Puerto Rican Senate.
Villaronga and his wife are retired and continue to reside in Killeen. They have three grown sons, William Raúl, Walter Rafael, and Robert Gabriel, and two grandsons, Christopher Raul, who graduated from West Chester University, Pennsylvania
, in 2006, and Rafael Lee, who served with the United States Marine Corps
in Iraq
.
Badges:
Tab
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officer who has the distinction of being the first Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of a Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
city. He was elected Mayor of Killeen, Texas
Killeen, Texas
Killeen is a city in Bell County, Texas, The United States. The population was 86,911 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, Killeen had 119,510 people. In 2010 Killeen's population shot to 127,921...
in 1992.
Early years
Villaronga, born in Ponce, Puerto RicoPonce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
, was the second of three children born to Raul Gil Villaronga Pasarell, an accountant with the Puerto Rico Iron Works who once served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, and Maria Monserrate Martinez Perez, a school teacher and a housewife. At a young age, his family moved to St Croix, Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands of the United States are a group of islands in the Caribbean that are an insular area of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles.The U.S...
where his father worked as an accountant for a distillery. In Christiansted, he began his elementary school education. After a few years his family returned to Puerto Rico, and he was enrolled in the public school system of Ponce. During his early teen years he attended the Catholic Seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
(Casa Manresa) in the town of Aibonito, Puerto Rico for two years and studied ancient Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and Latin. Villaronga returned to school at the Colegio Ponceño de Varones in Ponce, and on his senior year, transferred to Ponce High School (the "original" Ponce High School), from which he graduated in 1954.
During his high school years, he joined the Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
and was a member of the National Champion Ponce Drill Team
Drill team
A drill team can be one of four different entities:# A Military Drill Team is marching unit that performs routines based on military drill. Military drill teams perform either armed or unarmed....
. This experience served as an influential factor in his decision as to which college/university he would attend. He enrolled in Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
because of its military environment, and immediately enrolled in the institution's Air Force ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) program. In 1954, Villaronga met his future wife, Julia Bush. After his freshman year he returned to Puerto Rico for one year after which he returned once more to Texas A&M University and this time joined the Army ROTC Program. Villaronga married Julia in 1958 during his senior year. In 1959, he earned his Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Industrial Engineering
Industrial engineering
Industrial engineering is a branch of engineering dealing with the optimization of complex processes or systems. It is concerned with the development, improvement, implementation and evaluation of integrated systems of people, money, knowledge, information, equipment, energy, materials, analysis...
and was commissioned as an Infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
Second Lieutenant of the U.S. Army.
Military career
While attending Texas A&M, Villaronga worked for Brown & Root Caribe in Puerto Rico and for Brown & Root, Inc. in Texas during the period of time between his graduation from college and the time that he to report for his active military duty. He was ordered to report to Fort BenningFort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, U.S. state of Georgia on April 3, 1960 for his basic training
Basic Training
Basic Training may refer to:* Basic Training, a 1971 American documentary directed by Frederick Wiseman* Basic Training , an American sex comedy* Recruit training...
. Upon the completion of his basic training, he attended the Infantry Officer's Basic Course and Basic Airborne
Airborne forces
Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
Course. In December 1960, he was assigned as Platoon Leader in the 1st Battle Group, 87th Infantry and then 2nd BG, 23rd Infantry
23rd Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 23rd Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army originally formed on June 26th 1812. The 23rd saw action in 14 battles during the War of 1812...
at Fort Benning. On October 3, 1961, Villaronga was promoted to First Lieutenant and underwent intense combat training during the Berlin Crisis
Berlin Crisis of 1961
The Berlin Crisis of 1961 was the last major politico-military European incident of the Cold War about the occupational status of the German capital city, Berlin, and of post–World War II Germany. The U.S.S.R...
. In 1962, he took the Special Forces Officer's Course and served from March 1962 to November 1962 as Special Forces Officer
United States Army Special Forces
The United States Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets because of their distinctive service headgear, are a special operations force tasked with six primary missions: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, hostage rescue, and...
at the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg (North Carolina)
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. He underwent extensive mountain training in West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
and jungle operations training at Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately 3 miles southwest of Valparaiso, Florida in Okaloosa County....
(Air Commandos).
From 1963 to 1965, Villaronga was assigned to the 8th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Gulick
Fort Gulick
Fort Gulick was a U.S. Army base in the former Panama Canal Zone located on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal near Fort Davis, on Gatun Lake.-History:It was perhaps best known as the location of the School of the Americas...
in the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
where he served in several classified Counterinsurgency Missions which included an assignment in 1965 of Commander of Detachment XX, 8th Special Forces Group, in Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
in which he conducted training for American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Latin American soldiers in Basic, Jumpmaster, Rigger, and Pathfinder Courses. During his stay in the Canal Zone, Villaronga continued his military preparation by studying Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
at the Defense Language Institute
Defense Language Institute
The Defense Language Institute is a United States Department of Defense educational and research institution, which provides linguistic and cultural instruction to the Department of Defense, other Federal Agencies and numerous and varied other customers...
and Jungle Warfare
Jungle warfare
Jungle warfare is a term used to cover the special techniques needed for military units to survive and fight in jungle terrain.It has been the topic of extensive study by military strategists, and was an important part of the planning for both sides in many conflicts, including World War II and the...
Operations. Villaronga was promoted to Captain on October 26, 1964.
Vietnam War
In 1966, Villaronga completed the Infantry Officers Career Course and then was sent to the Republic of VietnamSouth Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
where he served two tours during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. From July to September 1966, he served as the Adjutant of the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment(Airborne). From October 1966 through July 1967, he served as Company Commander, Co B, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment (Airborne).761st
When he return to the United States, Villaronga served as Special Warfare Instructor, U.S. Army Quartermaster School and as Supply Systems Instructor, US Army Quartermaster School from September 1967 to December 1969 at Fort Lee, in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. During this period of time he was promoted to major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
(October 26, 1967) and completed the Supply Management Course and ADP Systems Analysis Course.
During the 1970s, he completed the Logistics Executive Development Course and served in various positions in the military. He returned to the Republic of Vietnam and served as Logistics Staff Officer, 29th General Support Group and as the Battalion Executive Officer, 266 Supply and Service Battalion.
Post Vietnam War
In June 1973, he was reassigned to MechanicsburgMechanicsburg
Mechanicsburg is the name of some places in the United States of America:*Mechanicsburg, Illinois*Mechanicsburg, Boone County, Indiana*Mechanicsburg, Henry County, Indiana*Mechanicsburg, Ohio*Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
where until November 1976 he served in the following positions: Chief, Plans & Programs, and Manpower, Defense Depot; Chief, Management Support Office, Defense Depot and Chief, Transportation Division, Defense Deport. During this period (1973) Villaronga earned his Masters degree in Industrial Engineering
Industrial engineering
Industrial engineering is a branch of engineering dealing with the optimization of complex processes or systems. It is concerned with the development, improvement, implementation and evaluation of integrated systems of people, money, knowledge, information, equipment, energy, materials, analysis...
from Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
and also completed the following courses: Defense Language Institute
Defense Language Institute
The Defense Language Institute is a United States Department of Defense educational and research institution, which provides linguistic and cultural instruction to the Department of Defense, other Federal Agencies and numerous and varied other customers...
(German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
) and the Brigade, Battalion Commanders Course. On January 1, 1976 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
. From November 1976 to October 1979, he served in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
as Commander, 66th Maintenance Battalion in Kaiserslautern
Kaiserslautern
Kaiserslautern is a city in southwest Germany, located in the Bundesland of Rhineland-Palatinate at the edge of the Palatinate forest . The historic centre dates to the 9th century. It is from Paris, from Frankfurt am Main, and from Luxembourg.Kaiserslautern is home to 99,469 people...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and later as Plans & Operation Officer, 7th Support Command.
In November 1979, Villaronga was assigned to New Cumberland
New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
New Cumberland is a municipality at the eastern tip of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. New Cumberland was incorporated as a borough on March 21, 1831. The population was 7,349 at the 2000 census...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
where he served as Logistics Staff Officer, U.S. Army Logistics Evaluation Agency. In 1980, he attended the Command & General Staff College and on November 1, 1981 he was promoted to Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. On June 1983, Villaronga was sent to Fort Hood, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
where he served as Deputy Commander, 13th Support Command and later as Director of Instrumentation, US Army TCATA until August 1985. On August 1, 1985, Colonel Villaronga retired from the United States Army.
Civilian life
After Villaronga retired from the military, he decided to make Killeen his home and went to work as a part-time Professor at Central Texas CollegeCentral Texas College
Central Texas College is a community college located in Killeen, Texas, which was founded in 1965.As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of CTC comprises the following:...
where he taught Logistics, Math and Computer Science. Unable to get a full time position as a professor because he lacked a Masters in Education, he decided to work as a consultant for the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
and later for Brown & Root Services Corporation in Houston. Villaronga applied and was hired by the Texas Attorney General
Texas Attorney General
The Texas Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Texas.The department has offices at the William P. Clements State Office Building at 300 West 15th Street in Austin.-History:...
's Office in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, and served with the Child Support Enforcement Division. He designed and implemented a Case Tracking System that provided visibility as to what was happening to cases in each of the organizations involved with CSED.
Political career
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
which involved the building of a Convention Center and as a result ran for City Council member in 1989. He served a 2-year term as City Council member until 1991.
In 1992, Villaronga successfully ran for Mayor of Killeen." Villaronga, the first Puerto Rican to be elected Mayor of a Texas city was sworn in office June 20, 1992. He eventually resigned from the OAG after serving his first term as Mayor. As mayor, he served as the head of the City of Killeen government for all ceremonial purposes, and for the purposes of military law
Military law
Military justice is the body of laws and procedures governing members of the armed forces. Many states have separate and distinct bodies of law that govern the conduct of members of their armed forces. Some states use special judicial and other arrangements to enforce those laws, while others use...
. Along with the council members, he was responsible for soliciting citizen views in forming these policies and interpreting them to the public. Villaronga successfully served for 3 consecutive terms and in 1998 stepped down as Mayor in accordance to the term limits established by the City Charter. During the years in which Villaronga served as Mayor, he was involved and responsible for the implementation of the following:
- An agreement with the Cable CompanyCable televisionCable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
for a Government-access television cable TV channel, where the City Council Meetings are broadcasted live. - Establishment of the Central Texas Area Veterans Advisory Committee, giving veterans a stronger voice on local matters which resulted in the recognition of the contributions of all veterans to the community.
- A plan for Automation that integrated Local Area Networks in the City's Departments was established.
- An agreement with the Army to use Fort Hood's Robert Gray Army AirfieldKilleen-Fort Hood Regional AirportKilleen-Fort Hood Regional Airport is a small military/commercial joint-use airport also known by its military designation as Robert Gray Army Airfield. The airport is based inside the south end of the Fort Hood Military Reservation , a few miles southwest of Killeen in unincorporated Bell County,...
as a Joint Use Airport, which opened up transportation to the area and resulted in a great economic growth boom. - A Youth Advisory Commission which provided representation to their Future Leaders as a Commission reporting directly to the City Council on all matters concerning Youth.
- Establishment of the first Sister City Program in Killeen with the city of OsanOsanOsan is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, approximately 35 km south of Seoul. The population of the city is around 120,000. The local economy is supported by a mix of agricultural and industrial enterprises....
, South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
Later years
Among the civic organizations which Villaronga is involved in are the Disabled American VeteransDisabled American Veterans
The Disabled American Veterans, or DAV, is an organization for disabled veterans that helps them and their families through various means. It currently has over 1.2 million members...
, Veterans of Foreign Wars
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VFW currently has 1.5 million members belonging to 7,644 posts, and is the largest American organization of combat...
, and the American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
. He is also a member of the League of United Latin American Citizens
League of United Latin American Citizens
The League of United Latin American Citizens was created to combat the discrimination that Hispanics face in the United States. Established February 17, 1929 in Corpus Christi, Texas, LULAC was a consolidation of smaller, like-minded civil rights groups already in existence...
(LULAC) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
(NAACP). Villaronga and his wife are on the Board of Directors of Killeen Crime Stoppers, Inc., and they are both members of the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce. They both serve as Chamber Ambassadors, which are the "visible" face of the Chamber in promoting business and growth. Among the many awards bestowed upon Villaronga was The 2003 Exchange Club of Killeen Golden Deeds Award. On December 3, 2007, Villaronga, chairman of LULAC's Killeen Foundation, helped organize an event which honored both, the "Borinqueneers" (the 65th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army) composed almost entirely of Puerto Ricans that fought in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth D. McClintock-Hernández is the current Secretary of State of Puerto Rico. Mr. McClintock served as co-chair of Hillary Clinton presidential campaign's National Hispanic Leadership Council in 2008, co-chaired Clinton's successful Puerto Rico primary campaign that year and served as the...
, the President of the Puerto Rican Senate.
Villaronga and his wife are retired and continue to reside in Killeen. They have three grown sons, William Raúl, Walter Rafael, and Robert Gabriel, and two grandsons, Christopher Raul, who graduated from West Chester University, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, in 2006, and Rafael Lee, who served with the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Awards and decorations
Among Colonel Raúl G. Villaronga's military decorations are the following:
Silver StarSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
with "V" Device, w/ 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal (United States)The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters- Air Medal
Air MedalThe Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:... 
Joint Services Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
National Defense Service MedalNational Defense Service MedalThe National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
Army Service RibbonArmy Service RibbonThe Army Service Ribbon is a military decoration of the United States Army that was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981 as announced in Department of the Army General Order 15, dated 10 October 1990....
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 1
Vietnam Service MedalVietnam Service MedalThe Vietnam Service Medal is a military award which was created in 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The distinctive design was the creation of sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones, a former employee of the Army Institute of Heraldry. The medal is issued to recognize military service during...
w/ 4 Bronze Service Stars
Armed Forces Reserve MedalArmed Forces Reserve MedalThe Armed Forces Reserve Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that has existed since 1950. The medal recognizes service performed by the Reserve and National Guard forces of the United States of America....
Vietnam Campaign MedalVietnam Campaign MedalThe Vietnam Campaign Medal is a military recognition awarded by the Republic of Vietnam, , to any member of the United States, Australian, New Zealand and allied military forces serving six months or more in support of Republic of Vietnam military operations.Established in 1966, the decoration is...
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/ Silver Star
Badges:
- Master Parachutists BadgeParachutist Badge (United States)The Parachutist Badge, also commonly referred to as "Jump Wings" or "Snow Cone", is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces awarded to members of the United States Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy...
Combat Infantryman BadgeCombat Infantryman BadgeThe Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
Tab
Special Forces TabSpecial Forces TabThe Special Forces Tab is a service school qualification tab of the United States Army, awarded to any soldier completing either the Special Forces Qualification Course, or the Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course , at the U.S. Army John F...
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Rican military personnel