Bill Ragland
John Billy “Bill” Ragland of Brenham, passed away peacefully at home on Aug. 30, 2018, at the age of 88.
A memorial service will be held at Memorial Oaks Chapel in Brenham, at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4.
Bill was born on July 23, 1930, to Ossie Clara “Dolly” Crain Ragland and William Cull Ragland, in Luling. He spent his childhood in Mexia, and graduated from Mexia High School in 1948. Bill was always a cowboy and was greatly influenced by his grandfather, John William “Pop” Ragland. He rode to school and delivered papers on horseback. He worked as a racehorse jockey in the summers and spent many hours perfecting his roping skills.
Following graduation from high school, Bill enlisted in the United States Air Force. The Air Force sent him to a veterinary course in Fort Collins, Colo., where he met local girl Mary Ann Rudolph. Bill and Mary were married in 1952. He received orders to report to Headquarters 12th Air Force in Landsberg, Germany, where they lived for two years. After he was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1954, they returned to the states and Bill enrolled in Texas A&M University (’57) under the GI Bill. He lettered on the Texas A&M rodeo team and graduated with a degree in Agricultural Education. He remained an avid, long-suffering Aggie fan for the rest of his life.
Bill worked as a ranch manager in various Texas towns and in 1962 founded Ragland Cattle Company in Tomball. He was part of the evolution of the cattle buying business as it entered the modern era. He ushered in innovations on the management side in addition to designing and building facilities for the efficient preparation of cattle for the feedlot. He moved his business to Brenham in 1968.
Bill was a volunteer for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for 60 years and was instrumental in starting the commercial steer competition, creating the written exam and conducting the final interviews. He was named as a lifetime director of the Houston Rodeo in 1997.
He was a director of the American Cutting Horse Association and the National Cutting Horse Association. He spent years competing in cuttings on his beloved horse Sonofadocjoe (Goober) earning over $175,000 in winnings and two Non-Pro World Championships. He also served as a mentor in the sport to many youngsters and teens, including his oldest grandson, Matt. This past June he was the 2018 Pioneer Award recipient from the Bluebonnet Cutting Horse Association.
Bill was heavily involved in the Brenham community for 50 years. He coached Little League for 12 years, being the first coach in Washington County to draft a female player. He was involved with the Washington County Fair Commercial Steer competition and was a director of the Production Credit Association. He was a founding member of the Cowboy Church of Brenham.
Bill and Mary had three children: Marla (John) Johnson of San Marcos, Helen (Rob) Edwards, of Austin, and John (Leslie) Ragland, of Austin; grandchildren Wes Johnson (Crystal), Krista Milam (Rush), Matt Franke (Emily), Mark Franke (Hannah), Stephen Franke (Diana), Michael Edwards, Emma Sacco (Vincent), Caroline Ragland and six great-grandchildren.
In 1995 Bill married childhood friend Frances Sikes Saunders. They enjoyed almost 23 years of marriage and shared many, many special hours with friends in the cutting horse community and at church. Bill gained another family when he married Frances: sons Jim (Susan) Saunders, of Gatesville, and David (Sherry) Saunders, of Ranger; grandchildren Justin Saunders (Kelly), Mike Saunders (Brandi), Blake Saunders (Christina), Randi Forrest (Brian), Jackie Saunders (Taylor) and seven great-grandchildren.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his infant brother Mack. He is survived by his loving wife Frances, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well has his brothers Tom Ragland, of Waco, and Don L “Duck” Ragland of Houston.
Bill will always be a legendary horseman and businessman. He was a great storyteller, spinning long tales that were probably partially true. He was very hard working, very opinionated and stubborn. He might modify his opinion, but probably wouldn’t actually change it. He wore starched cotton monogrammed shirts and jeans, boots and a felt cowboy hat most days of his life. In his later years, Frances broadened his wardrobe to include polo shirts (less ironing). He loved his family, Texas A&M, a good steak and Blue Bell ice cream. He especially loved Frances – and Goober and his dog Mike. Although he didn’t always show it, he had a deep affection for those in his life and he was loved by many. He delighted in all the children and youth he knew and wanted to support them in any way he could. His faith was important to him. A friend said it succinctly: “Bill was Bill – all day long.”
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Brazos Valley Hospice at 302 East Blue Bell Road, Brenham, TX 77833 and the Cowboy Church of Brenham at P.O. Box 2516, Brenham, TX 77834.
Funeral arrangements for John Billy “Bill” Ragland are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, visit memorialoakschapel.com .
