82R7276 JNC-D
By: Hilderbran H.R. No. 329
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The city of Hunt lost an admired resident and
community leader with the death of Silas B. Ragsdale, Jr., on
January 5, 2011, at the age of 86; and
WHEREAS, A native of Galveston, "Si" Ragsdale was born on
September 15, 1924, to Silas and Sadie Ragsdale; he graduated from
Ball High School and attended Castle Heights Military Academy,
earning the rank of first lieutenant; he went on to serve this
nation as an army captain in World War II, and he was awarded the
Bronze Star for his courageous service during the Normandy
invasion; and
WHEREAS, Returning to civilian life, Mr. Ragsdale drew on his
longtime love of camping to develop his career; he directed Camp
Fern in Marshall for five summers and later worked year-round as
director of Camp Rio Vista and program director of Texas Lion's Camp
in Kerrville; in 1966, he and his wife, Kathy, purchased Camp
Stewart, and in 1987, they acquired Heart O' the Hills Camp for
Girls; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ragsdale was a leader in his field; in addition
to serving as president of the National Camping Advisory Council,
he was a member of the Governor's Advisory Council on Youth Camp
Safety, a founding member and president of the Camping Association
for Mutual Progress, and a member-at-large on the American Camping
Association National Camping Council for Private Independent
Camps; and
WHEREAS, Active in his state and community as well, he served
on the board of the Texas Chamber of Commerce and on the foundation
board of Texas Woman's University, the alma mater of his mother,
wife, and daughters; his own alma mater, The University of Texas at
Austin, benefited from his life membership with the alumni
association, the Texas Exes, and his work with the Delta Tau Delta
fraternity earned him appointment to the group's Distinguished
Service Chapter; he also helped to establish Leadership Kerr
County, and his efforts were recognized with the title of Kerr
County Legend, awarded to him by the Kerrville Area Chamber of
Commerce in 2008; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ragsdale attended the First Presbyterian Church
of Kerrville and contributed to the congregation as an elder;
moreover, he chaired the board of trustees for Mo-Ranch and served
on the Texas Presbyterian Foundation Board; and
WHEREAS, Si Ragsdale enjoyed a life that was rich in the
intangibles that matter most, and he is deeply missed by all those
who were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Silas B. Ragsdale,
Jr., and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to
his wife, Kathy Coffey Ragsdale; to his sons, Jon Ragsdale and his
wife, Janet, and Silas "Jeepers" Ragsdale III and his wife,
Meredith; to his daughters, Jane Howell and her husband, Dick, and
Juli Ragsdale and Levvy Carriker; to his grandchildren, Silas Deen
Howell, Silas Ragsdale IV, and Catherine Ragsdale; to his sister,
Joan Ragsdale Baskin; and to his other relatives and friends; and,
be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Silas B.
Ragsdale, Jr.