James B. Ratliff

Legislative Resolution

View Legislative Resolution File for James B. Ratliff

Biographical Information

The following is from the Legislative death resolution:

The Honorable James B. Ratliff passed away at the age of seventy on January 19, 1989 in Sun City.

James Ratliff was born in Parker, Texas on April 23, 1918, son of John and Lee Ratliff.  He graduated from Parker's local High School before entering the military in 1936.

Mr. Ratliff was in the military for twenty-four years and was twice wounded during World War II.  During military service he served in various enlisted ranks and later received an officer's commission.  As an officer, he served as an Administrative Officer, Infantry Platoon Leader, Squadron Commander and Chief of Security and Law Enforcement.  On retiring from the Air Force in 1960, he became Chief Criminal Investigator of Champaign County, Illinois.

In 1966 Mr. Ratliff and his wife, Emma, moved to Arizona.

He was first elected to the Arizona House of Representatives to serve in the Thirtieth Legislative Session beginning in 1971 and served continuously for eighteen years ending with the Thirty-eighth Legislature, Second Regular Session in 1988.  Representative Ratliff served with distinction on the Agriculture, Economic Affairs, Municipalities, Appropriations, Human Resources, Rules, Natural Resources and Energy, and Tourism, Professions and Occupations Committees.  He was also appointed the Chairman of the Ways and Means, and Government Operations Committees.  He became particularly knowledgeable and was relied on as an expert in the area of public employee retirement issues.  In 1987 and 1988 during the Thirty-eighth Legislature, Mr. Ratliff was elected by his peers as House Majority Leader.

Military Experience

U.S. Army Air Force, World War II veteran:  entered military service in 1936 and retired as Air Force officer in 1960 (resume attached to AZ Leg bio sheet) Mr. Ratliff was in the military for twenty-four years and was twice wounded during World War II.  During military service he served in various enlisted ranks and later received an officer's commission.  As an officer, he served as an Administrative Officer, Infantry Platoon Leader, Squadron Commander and Chief of Security and Law Enforcement. (Legislative death resolution)

Employment

Arizona Legislative Service

Sources

Birth: Arizona Legislative Biography sheet, NF TX Birth Index, NF 1920 and 1930 Collin Co., TX census records; Military Service:  Arizona Legislative Biography sheet, Legislative death resolution; Death: SSDI:  James Ratliff, Legislative death resolution