As a youngster, Raul attended Ursuline Academy and Martin High School in Laredo. Fernandez later attended Texas A&M University where he earned a civil engineering degree (Class of '59).
He started working with H.B. Zachry Construction Co., and married Sylvia Pena, his high school sweetheart. Raul and his wife have three children.
In 1974, Fernandez joined Uptmore & Associates where he would become Senior Vice President.
Fernandez was selected to the NISD Board of Trustees in 1972 and served for 18 years. Using his expertise as a builder, Fernandez guided Northside in the construction of two dozen schools, numerous academic program improvements, and opening Northside schools to lifetime learning.