In this photo provided by Rain Bird, world-renowned float designer Raul Rodriguez puts the finishing touches on a Rose Parade float he designed in 2006. (John Hayes / Associated Press)
The Dole “Dreaming of Paradise” float, designed by Raul Rodriguez for the 2013 Rose Parade, pays tribute to the beauty and bounty of the tropical paradise of Latin America. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Float designer Raul Rodriguez rides the city of Santa Fe Springs float in the 2007 Rose Parade. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)
Raul Rodriguez designed this float, which competed in the 2013 Rose Parade. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Raul Rodriguez in 1999. He died Wednesday at his home in Pasadena. He was 71. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Another Rodriguez-designed float, from the 2012 Rose Parade. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Rodriguez created this float in 2012. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Another Rodriguez float. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Another Rodriguez creation. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
