Noriega, Rick, 1958-

Rick Noriega was born Richard Joe Noriega in Houston, Texas in 1958. He first attended Allen Community College and worked for the Texas State Board of Insurance before he joined the Army Reserves in 1979. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from the University of Houston in 1984 and a master's degree from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1990. He also studied at the University of Guadalajara and served as president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 402 in Houston. He was hired as a lobbyist for Houston Industries Incorporated in 1993 and moved to their economic development department when in 1998 he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives where he has served five terms. At the time of the interview, he was one of several Democratic Party affiliates in absentia from the Texas Special Legislative Session over redistricting. In 2008, he unsuccessfully opposed incumbent John Cornyn in an election race for the United States Senate. In 2009, he had attained the rank of Lt. Colonel in the Texas Army National Guard.

From the description of Oral history interview with Rick Noriega, 2003 [videorecording]. (University of Texas at Arlington). WorldCat record id: 407182881