Tom Rush Ragland, III, age 89, former First Selectman of the Town of Greenwich, died Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at his home in Vero Beach, Florida. He was surrounded by his loving wife and children.
Ed Dadakis, former Chairman of the Greenwich Republican Town Committee described Ragland as a great guy—funny, hard working guy who clearly loved Greenwich.
“His campaign slogan was “Team Greenwich” and every day he was First Selectman he lived that mantra making sure that he and the Town delivered for our residents,” Dadakis added. “Despite moving to Florida he kept in touch with so many of his friends in Greenwich. He is already missed. ”
He was born in Charleston, WV on January 3, 1935, and the son of the late Tom Rush Ragland, Jr. and Nancy Thomas Ragland who moved to Greenwich, CT in 1952.
Mr. Ragland was a graduate of Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, MA attended the University of Miami, Florida; and was Honorably discharged from the United States Air Force. He Married his beloved wife Marilyn Sue Thurman of Broken Bow Nebraska in 1960. He received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Nebraska, was President of the College of Engineering and Architecture, and graduated with honors and went on to earn a Masters degree in Architecture & Planning from Columbia University, specializing in healthcare facilities planning and design.
In 1968, he and Marilyn welcomed a wonderful boy, Tom R. Ragland IV and in 1970 welcomed their loving daughter, Angela Suzanne Ragland to the family.
He began his career in architecture in 1965 at the prestigious firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, Architects & Planners in New York. He was a Participating Associate Partner with responsibilities of Project Design, Project Management and Long-Range Planning. In 1972, he Joined Ezra Ehrenkrantz to build a new firm, The Ehrenkrantz Group, New York, where he served as Vice President of Healthcare Facilities. Projects for which he had significant responsibilities include: The Joseph H. Hirschhorn Museum, Washington, DC; Lyndon Baines Johnson Library Austin, Texas and the Annenberg Tower, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York and the Large Animal Teaching Hospital, Tufts University.
Mr. Ragland retired from the architectural profession in 1981 to spend more time with his family. The work and travel demands were putting a strain on balancing the needs of business and family. He chose a second profession, which had been his hobby, photography. He bought a full-service photo retail business in Old Greenwich Connecticut and renamed it The Image Center, Inc. Mr. Ragland is a noted photographer and covered the America’s Cup Yacht racing in 1980, and 1983 in Newport RI, 1986-7 in Perth Australia and 1988 in San Diego CA. More recently he was the official photographer for the World Cup Etchells Regatta in Long Island Sound in 2003.
While working locally, Mr. Ragland helped the founding of Old Greenwich Retail Merchants Association and became its President, joined the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce and the Greenwich Council on Youth and Drugs; was appointed to the Town of Greenwich Planning and Zoning Commission, the Selectmen’s Committee on Parking and Traffic, the Long-Range Planning Committee, Vacant Schools Committee and the Cos Cob School Building Committee.
In 1992, Mr. Ragland retired and sold the Image Center. He continued his public service to the Town and the Chamber. In the late spring of 1993, he was asked by the Greenwich Republican Town Committee to run as a Selectman, he accepted and this launched a third career, politics. Mr. Ragland was elected Selectman in 1993. He successfully ran for First Selectman (Mayor) in 1995 and again in 1997, serving two terms before he retired in December of 1999.
Mr. Ragland is a member and former Chairman of the Board of the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce; served on the board of directors of: Greenwich Emergency Medical Services; Bruce Museum – Ex Officio; Greenwich Hospital – Incorporator; Greenwich YMCA Advisory Committee; and the Community Advisory Board – Junior League of Greenwich. He is a member of the Riverside Yacht Club where he served on the Board of Governors, The Harpoon Club, The Horseneck Club of Greenwich, Greenwich Republican Roundtable and the Heritage Foundation. Upon moving to Vero Beach Florida in 2014, he joined the Quail Valley Golf & River Club. More recently he was honored to be included In the Who’s Who of America and the recipient of the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.
Nutmegger Magazine once labeled him as the Renaissance Man, Architect, Photographer, sailor and civic leader. He loved his town and contributed enormously to its success bringing his professional experience to resolve complex issues. He was always a people person and empowered his staff to do their job well and would stand behind them and support them in every way. One of his great strengths was his sense of humor which was always present in any meeting. He was selected by the Harpoon Club to be its “Fall Guy” in 2004. He had a deep love for golf, skiing, sailing and tennis. He thoroughly enjoyed being with his family and friends.
Mr. Ragland is survived by his wife, Marilyn Thurman Ragland, of 64 years and is his son, Tom Rush Ragland IV, and his wife Sally Hogin Ragland, their children Jack and Juliet of Manchester, Vermont; and his daughter, Angela Ragland McConnell and her two children Mickey and Christopher; his two brothers, John T. Ragland and his wife Susan of Savannah, GA and Chris W. Ragland of Savannah, GA.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, May 31 at First Congregational Church of Greenwich.
In lieu of flowers contributions should be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at https://www2.jdrf.org/site/Donation or mail to JDRF PO Box 5021 Hagerstown, MD 21741-5021 or to the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, 1000 36th Street, Vero Beach, Florida 32960.
Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.