Joe F. Ragland
Joe F. Ragland | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Georgia House of Representatives from the post 3, 109th district | |
| In office 1967–1969 | |
| Preceded by | John F. Stewart |
| Succeeded by | Billy Lee Evans (in 81st district, post 3) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 7, 1936 Newnan, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | January 24, 2025 (aged 88) |
| Political party | Democratic (to 1968) Republican (from 1968) |
Joe F. Ragland (April 7, 1936 – January 24, 2025) was an American politician from the state of Georgia. He served as a Democratic-turned-Republican member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 1967 to 1969. He was born in Newnan, Georgia, grew up in Macon, and earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Georgia. He began a career in realty before being elected to the Georgia House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1966. On March 1, 1968, he switched to the Republican Party, citing what he saw as the benefits of a strong two-party system and the alignment of local youths with his new party. Later that year, he lost the Republican primary for re-election to future U.S. congressman Billy Lee Evans.