Raul Elizondo

Mr. Raul Elizondo, 76, of Arlington, Texas, passed away at his home Tuesday, June 10. His wife, Alma Elizondo, was at his side.

Raul Elizondo was born on November 25, 1948 in Weslaco, Texas. His parents, Mr. Antonio Elizondo and Mrs. Elodia Cirilo Elizondo, stressed the value of education to their nine children. Raul graduated from Weslaco High School in 1965, and earned a BBA in Accounting and Government from the University of Texas Pan American in 1969. Raul earned a certificate from the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University in 1977, and an MBA from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1982. From 1969 to 1975, he served in the Texas Army National Guard, including active duty at Fort Ord, California.

Raul accepted a position as a national bank examiner with the U.S. Treasury Department in 1969. His career as a bank examiner included being located in Waco and San Antonio, and traveling throughout the state of Texas. Raul continued to share many colorful and fascinating stories from his days as a bank examiner throughout his life. On April 4, 1970, Raul married his high school sweetheart, Alma Martinez, also from Weslaco, at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in a ceremony officiated by Raul’s oldest brother, Father Ruben Elizondo, OMI. Raul and Alma supported each other throughout their lives and celebrated 55 years of marriage this year.

Raul and Alma moved to Arlington in 1977 when Raul accepted a position as Vice-President of American Bank in Dallas. In 1982, Raul was appointed the President and Chief Executive Officer of InterFirst Bank, Oak Cliff. He also became Chairman of the Board of InterFirst Bank in 1985. During this time, Raul demonstrated his strong work ethic and commitment to community service by serving as a two-time Chairman of the Board for the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, and on the boards of directors for Methodist Medical Center, Dallas Family Hospital, the Greater Dallas Planning Council, and the Dallas Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the boards for City of Dallas Housing & Economic Development Corporation, Dallas Arboretum, Dallas Women’s Foundation, and Dallas Zoological Society, among others. He was a longtime member of the Dallas Rotary. In 1985, Raul was selected as Oak Cliff’s Man of the Year by the Oak Cliff Tribune.

In the 1990s, Raul enrolled in law school, earning his Juris Doctorate law degree in 1996 from Texas Wesleyan University (now Texas A&M University School of Law), passing the Texas State Bar the same year. Raul became the chief legal counsel for a large international corporation, followed by working in private practice, where he enjoyed using his lifetime of knowledge in banking and law to work with small businesses in the DFW metroplex, many of which he knew from his days as a banker in Oak Cliff.

In addition to his many professional achievements, Raul never missed a family moment. He enjoyed attending his children’s and grandchild’s extracurricular activities, fine dining, and traveling. An avid athlete himself, Raul frequently attended sporting events for the Rangers, Cowboys, and Mavericks, and he was active in the Arlington Senior Men’s Golf Association. He took great pleasure in letting people know about the holes-in-one that he made on the fourth hole at the Meadowbrook Golf Course and on the eleventh hole at the Lake Arlington Golf Course. More recently, he was able to travel extensively with his wife, Alma, enjoying trips to Central America, Hawaii, Alaska, France, Italy, and Canada in the past few years. He particularly doted on his beloved dog, Penny, and his accomplished grandson, Ian.

Raul Elizondo is survived by his wife, Alma Martinez Elizondo; son Mark Elizondo (Virginia) of Grapevine; daughter Kristina Elizondo (David Kilby) of San Marcos; grandson Ian Elizondo; siblings Fr. Ruben Elizondo of Mexico City; Viola Elizondo of Weslaco; Rosa Evola of San Antonio; Lupita Torres (Tony) of Garland; Antonio Elizondo (Aminta) of Weslaco; Bertha Finney (James) of Aurora, CO; brothers-in-law Javier Martinez of Mercedes; Eloy Martinez (Angie) of New Braunfels; Sergio Martinez (Louanna) of Harlingen; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family members.

Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 pm on Tuesday, June 17; and a Celebration of Life will be at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, June 18. Both services will be at Wade Funeral Home at 4140 West Pioneer Parkway in Arlington.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship Scholarships at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Division of Institutional Advancement, 701 E. Expressway 83, Box #13, McAllen, TX 78501.

Gifts can be made online by visiting the following link: Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship Scholarships