Board Member Profile: Raul Gonzalez
Give us a brief bio of your career.
I have always been in business of some kind.
Growing up, I did everything from picking peaches
to running a newspaper route. I also worked for the
El Paso Diablos Baseball team.
When I moved to Arlington, I worked for an
architectural firm and the Texas Rangers, where
I met my wife Kerry. I was later hired as a court
runner and have been with the same Dallas law firm,
Passman and Jones, since 1983. I currently serve as
the Director of Administration where I perform all
administrative functions but do not practice law.
What schools did you attend?
I started elementary school in El Paso’s lower valley
at Pasodale Elementary. I attended MacArthur
Junior High and graduated from El Paso Burges
High School in 1980. Then, I headed to Arlington
to attend The University of Texas at Arlington
where I graduated with a BBA in Management. I
am still involved at UTA and am happy with the
collaboration between our fantastic district and our
outstanding university.
Who was your role model as a kid?
I am fortunate to have had many role models from
relatives to employers; however my father, R. H.
Gonzalez, was the most important role model in my
life. He became “man of the house” at 11 years old
when his father died, forcing him into a leadership
role that continued throughout his life.
He worked for the U.S. Post Office in El Paso.
He loved his job and worked hard every day,
never coming home early and rarely calling in
sick. Although my father only had a high school
education, he eventually became the area district
manager. He retired as one of the top 100 postal
officials in the U.S. He never smoked or drank and
made sure he was in church every Sunday with
our family. My father was a leader as a young man
and still leads his family 10 years after his passing
because of the example he set.
What makes you so passionate about MISD?
The best move Kerry and I made was moving our
kids from private school into Charlotte Anderson
Elementary. This transition started my passion
for MISD as we immediately recognized the
district’s superiority. I began working to strengthen
collaboration between Arlington and MISD (20
percent of MISD students live in Arlington) leading
to my election to the MISD School Board. I am
happy to be a part of our fantastic district where
each and every person works for the benefit of our
students and families.
What is one quote that you love and live by?
“You can’t un-ring the bell.” (Once an unkind
word or unfortunate statement is made, you cannot
take it back.)
Gonzalez loves spending time with his wife of 30 years and his
three children.
Mansfield School & Family 19