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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Edward
4Ragsdale, M.D., who passed away on March 10, 2024; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Dr. Ragsdale was born to Floyd and Elizabeth
6Ragsdale in Little Rock, Arkansas on March 24, 1939; he
7graduated first in his class from the University of Arkansas
8and then attended Washington University School of Medicine in
9St. Louis, where he specialized in radiology; he joined the
10U.S. Air Force in 1968, serving in active duty until 1970; he
11married Meredith Smith in 1968; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Dr. Ragsdale joined the staff at Alton Memorial
13Hospital in 1970, where he became chairman of the Department
14of Radiology and was one of the hospital's longest-serving
15doctors; he was also medical director of the Twin Rivers MRI
16Center and was active as a frequent speaker and advocate in
17county and state medical societies; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Dr. Ragsdale also worked diligently within
19Republican politics, serving as chairman of the Madison County
20Republican Party from 1976 to 1994 and chairman of the
21Alton-Godfrey-Foster County Republicans from 1995 to 2016; he
22was elected to serve as a delegate for Ronald Reagan at the

 

 

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1Republican National Convention in both 1980 and 1984; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Dr. Ragsdale was well-known in the community of
3Alton, where he lived and worked for more than 50 years; his
4dedication, brilliance, and resourcefulness earned him a
5number of awards and recognitions, including a Lifetime
6Achievement Award from Alton Memorial Hospital in 2017; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Dr. Ragsdale loved medicine and politics, and he
8was also passionate about his 160-acre cattle farm; he enjoyed
9fishing, duck hunting, traveling, camping, and spending time
10in nature; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Dr. Ragsdale was a doctor, a politician, a
12farmer, a proud veteran, an Eagle Scout, and a friend to many;
13he will be remembered for his high-impact life; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Dr. Ragsdale was preceded in death by his
15parents; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Dr. Ragsdale is survived by his wife of 55 years,
17Meredith; his children, Lynda Davey, Alan Ragsdale, and
18Phillip Ragsdale; his son-in-law, Tim Davey; his
19daughter-in-law, Samantha Ragsdale; his grandchildren, Sam
20Davey, Sara Davey, Ava Ragsdale, and Tucker Ragsdale; his
21sister, Ellen Ann Hopkins; and his nephews, Jonathan Hopkins,

 

 

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1Beau Hopkins, and Cabell Hopkins; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
3HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
4we mourn the passing of Edward Ragsdale, M.D. and extend our
5sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew
6and loved him; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to the family of Dr. Ragsdale as an expression of our
9deepest sympathy.