Mike was our class mascot in so many ways...The Crack Squad girls adored him...made him our Colonel. He always had that wonderful smile; I don't think I ever saw him angry. He had a kind and loving soul. He loved to fish, loved those motorcycles...but most of all Mike loved people. He charmed every girls' parents....they trusted Mike. Our lives were enriched in so many ways by his friendship. We were blessed to have shared this journey with him...you are dearly missed by all.
My first and most treasured memory of Rags was in 7th grade. He was obviously the most popular boy....with the girls, with the guys, with the teachers, with the parents......but that is not the memory I treasure. Do you remember our sock hops in the gymn? It was such a thrill for us, new to dancing with boys, just to be there, much less to be asked to dance. Most of us went to the sock hops without dates; it was just a huge room full of boys & girls on the brink of experiencing something new and wonderful together. Our eyes were always on Rags and usually he was dancing with Robbins...(what a perfectly beautiful pair)...but if you followed him around the room, you saw that he went to the girls who weren't poplular or particularly beautiful...he made sure THEY got to dance. I thought that was just remarkable and it impressed me so, I cant remove those images from my mind. I remember one girl was just huge, probably weighed close to 180 lbs in 7th grade and her face was a mess with pimples, poc marks, and inflamation; her glasses were an inch thick and her clothes seemed to be pieced together feed sacks....AND, SHE DANCED WITH THE MOST POPULAR BOY IN THE SCHOOL! HOW GRAND SHE MUST HAVE FELT. When I wasnt dancing, I was watching Rags for those 3 perfect years at West Jr. High. I think he kept that sweet spirit throughout his life, always making time for the least among us, always finding the GOOD in people. I got to spend a lot of time with Rags in mid eighties and until he died.....I NEVER HEARD HIM SAY A DISCOURAGING WORD ABOUT ANY FRIEND, ACQUAINTENCE OR STRANGER. REMARKABLE.
Mike and I were good friends from 1st through 12th grades and beyond. Mike, Mike Sheets, Roy Lobett, Eddie Boen, Max Jackson and I (all Class of 1961) would get together after our paper routes (Muskogee Phoenix) to discuss everyday affairs and plot out the mischief we might be planning. I last saw Mike in Las Vegas when he stayed with me shortly before he passed away. We had long talks about life in general during those three days and I have many great memories of our long friendship. He definitely liked all the girls!
Mike and I attended junior college in Muskogee. We used to debate religion. I remember best his sense of humor. He was interested in everything and could get along with anyone.
Mike Ragsdale was the first person I met when we moved into the Longfellow district when I was in sixth grade. He was our paper boy and lived down the street, so he always came to us last so we could "shoot the breeze" for a little while. He was always fun and full of smiles and my little brother and sister loved him....in fact, my brother still laughs when he recalls Sheets and Ragsdale tying him up and tickling him to hear him to hear him giggle. Mike was our paper boy through our senior year, and I'm certain my family missed him more than they missed me when I left for OCU. He was a good friend and I always appreciated his smile and kindness. So sad he left us too soon.
"RAGS" was one of a kind, and as Roger Stebbins said above -all of the "paperboys" got together after our routes on some days - usually near the Banner Grill. There was definitely mischief afoot, and Mike Ragsdale was normally a leader in that area. As we neared the end of our paper route careers, (driver's licenses and girls being the main cause), I remember one Sunday morning about 8-9 AM when we had been out to the lake/river fishing(?) all night, and we decided to mix all our papers together and do all of the routes from somdeone's convertible. Well when the supervisor of the routes finally caught up to us near Fondulac and N. 13th St., that was the final nail. Also, because the Bixby family was on my route there was additional scrutiny. Rags was a good friend through many years and super charged with energy. Eddie
Lisa Scott (Harbison)
Mike was our class mascot in so many ways...The Crack Squad girls adored him...made him our Colonel. He always had that wonderful smile; I don't think I ever saw him angry. He had a kind and loving soul. He loved to fish, loved those motorcycles...but most of all Mike loved people. He charmed every girls' parents....they trusted Mike. Our lives were enriched in so many ways by his friendship. We were blessed to have shared this journey with him...you are dearly missed by all.
Judy Kay Wilson (Synar)
My first and most treasured memory of Rags was in 7th grade. He was obviously the most popular boy....with the girls, with the guys, with the teachers, with the parents......but that is not the memory I treasure. Do you remember our sock hops in the gymn? It was such a thrill for us, new to dancing with boys, just to be there, much less to be asked to dance. Most of us went to the sock hops without dates; it was just a huge room full of boys & girls on the brink of experiencing something new and wonderful together. Our eyes were always on Rags and usually he was dancing with Robbins...(what a perfectly beautiful pair)...but if you followed him around the room, you saw that he went to the girls who weren't poplular or particularly beautiful...he made sure THEY got to dance. I thought that was just remarkable and it impressed me so, I cant remove those images from my mind. I remember one girl was just huge, probably weighed close to 180 lbs in 7th grade and her face was a mess with pimples, poc marks, and inflamation; her glasses were an inch thick and her clothes seemed to be pieced together feed sacks....AND, SHE DANCED WITH THE MOST POPULAR BOY IN THE SCHOOL! HOW GRAND SHE MUST HAVE FELT. When I wasnt dancing, I was watching Rags for those 3 perfect years at West Jr. High. I think he kept that sweet spirit throughout his life, always making time for the least among us, always finding the GOOD in people. I got to spend a lot of time with Rags in mid eighties and until he died.....I NEVER HEARD HIM SAY A DISCOURAGING WORD ABOUT ANY FRIEND, ACQUAINTENCE OR STRANGER. REMARKABLE.
Roger Stebbins
Mike and I were good friends from 1st through 12th grades and beyond. Mike, Mike Sheets, Roy Lobett, Eddie Boen, Max Jackson and I (all Class of 1961) would get together after our paper routes (Muskogee Phoenix) to discuss everyday affairs and plot out the mischief we might be planning. I last saw Mike in Las Vegas when he stayed with me shortly before he passed away. We had long talks about life in general during those three days and I have many great memories of our long friendship. He definitely liked all the girls!
Jon Diamos
Mike and I attended junior college in Muskogee. We used to debate religion. I remember best his sense of humor. He was interested in everything and could get along with anyone.
Linda Allen (Euting)
Mike Ragsdale was the first person I met when we moved into the Longfellow district when I was in sixth grade. He was our paper boy and lived down the street, so he always came to us last so we could "shoot the breeze" for a little while. He was always fun and full of smiles and my little brother and sister loved him....in fact, my brother still laughs when he recalls Sheets and Ragsdale tying him up and tickling him to hear him to hear him giggle. Mike was our paper boy through our senior year, and I'm certain my family missed him more than they missed me when I left for OCU. He was a good friend and I always appreciated his smile and kindness. So sad he left us too soon.Eddie Boen
"RAGS" was one of a kind, and as Roger Stebbins said above -all of the "paperboys" got together after our routes on some days - usually near the Banner Grill. There was definitely mischief afoot, and Mike Ragsdale was normally a leader in that area. As we neared the end of our paper route careers, (driver's licenses and girls being the main cause), I remember one Sunday morning about 8-9 AM when we had been out to the lake/river fishing(?) all night, and we decided to mix all our papers together and do all of the routes from somdeone's convertible. Well when the supervisor of the routes finally caught up to us near Fondulac and N. 13th St., that was the final nail. Also, because the Bixby family was on my route there was additional scrutiny. Rags was a good friend through many years and super charged with energy. Eddie