Texas House Member

Member Photo

Audio Message

Rep. Sheffield, Ralph

District 55

Email

Capitol Address:

Room E2.322, Capitol Extension
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512)463-0630
(512)463-0937 Fax

District Address:

3000 S. 31st ST, Suite 302
Temple TX 76502
(254)774-9888
(254)771-5775 Fax

Bills Authored/Sponsored 83rd Legislature:

Committees:

District Analyses:

Counties Represented:

Bell (part)

District:

Press Conferences:

Member Press Conferences

Media

No media have been submitted

Biography

Ralph Sheffield, a Texas native, was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2008 to represent District 55, encompassing the majority of Bell County. A brief look at Ralph Sheffield's career in business and civic involvement reveals several constant traits: service, leadership, results.

Ralph Sheffield opened his first restaurant at the age of nineteen in 1975. Since 1982, he has owned Las Casas Restaurant and All Occasion Catering based in Temple that serves customers throughout Bell County and Central Texas. Las Casas Restaurant is famous for its trademarked, signature menu item invented by Ralph called White Wings. Ralph's business leadership includes service as a member of the Temple, Belton, Harker Heights, and Killeen Chambers of Commerce, the Temple Business league, Texas Association of Business, and National Federation of Independent Business. He served as Executive Committee Member of the Temple Chamber of Commerce. Ralph is also a member of the Texas Restaurant Association, Texas Farm Bureau, Association of the U.S. Army, the SPJST, and the Temple Area Home Builders Association.

Ralph's civic involvement extends statewide. He served as President of the Texas Restaurant Association from 2002-2003 and represented over five thousand restaurant owners in Austin to advocate for less government and fewer government intrusions into small business. He was named the "Small Businessman of the Year" by the Small Business Administration, and also served as Chairman of the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation.

Ralph and his wife Debbie have deep ties to Bell County where they have built a business and raised four, now adult, children-- Ashley, Adrienne, Josh, and Ben. They have made great contributions to many Bell County charitable and civic organizations, both as board members and financial supporters. Ralph was born in Waco, Texas and graduated from Richfield High School in 1973. Having first triumphed in the special election, followed by the general election, Representative Ralph Sheffield was sworn into office on November 20, 2008, and serves on three committees for the 82nd Legislature: Vice-Chair of Veterans Affairs, Energy Resources and Rules and Resolutions. Ralph was awarded the Texas Taxpayers Advocate Award for his work on behalf of taxpayers during the 81st Legislative Session and was recognized as a "Champion for Free Enterprise" by the Texas Association of Business, the highest honor given by the organization. He and Debbie attend First United Methodist Church of Temple.

last updated on 02/14/2011