Texas National Guardsman from Pipe Creek found dead in hotel

Texas National Guardsmen Spc. Michael Razvillas, 44, of Pipe Creek, died July 13, 2021 in his hotel room in Laredo.

According to officials with the Texas Military Department (TMD), the cause of death is unknown and under investigation.

Razvillas was born on May 6, 1977, in San Antonio. He served in the Army for eight years and five years as a Texas Army National Guardsman.

He is survived by his wife, Jennifer N. Massey Razvillas, and his children, Caleb, Jacob and Alyssa.

Funeral services will be held next week in San Antonio, with burial following at FOrt Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Support to the family is being provided by the soldiers’ unit, according to TMD officials.

“The Texas Military Department sends our deepest condolences to Spc. Razvilla’s family,” said Maj. Gen. Tracy Norris, the Adjutant General of Texas. “We are deeply saddened by this loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones and fellow service members.”

TMD officials said Razvillas was in Lubbock on a COVID-19 support mission.

Governor Greg Abbott activated the Texas National Guard in March of 2020 to aid state efforts to combat COVID-19 through field testing, decontaminating facilities, providing regional support of storage and distribution of personal protective equipment and other tasks.

President Trump approved federal funding for the Texas National Guard’s COVID-19 support missions through the end of 2020. The Bulletin reached out to Governor Abbott’s office regarding whether these support missions are still federally funded, but did not hear back by press time.

Editor’s Note: A full obituary for Michael Razvillas is on page 5.