Rob Roy Ratliff, Ph.D., 93, a retired Central Intelligence Agency and White House executive, died of heart failure on July 1, 2019 at his home in Gaithersburg, Maryland. A 41-year resident of Rockville, Marland, he moved to Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, in September 2007.
Mr. Ratliff served six years at the White House on the staff of the National Security Council during the administrations of Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter. He was the senior CIA representative and was executive secretary of the 40 Committee, which approved clandestine operations.
Ratliff later served as Executive assistant to CIA Director Admiral Stansfield Turner and was a member of the CIA inspector general's staff when he retired in 1980.
He was a CIA senior executive service office and received many commendations including the Intelligence Medal of Merit. Most of his 28-year CIA career was in the clandestine service and included tours in the Philippines, Taiwan and Guyana.
Mr. Ratliff was born on January 23, 1926, in Webb City, Missouri, to Claude F. and Carol "E.C." (Magruder) Ratliff, longtime residents of Webb City and Joplin. His father was vice president of the Empire District Electric Company. His older sister and brother, Virginia and Dregor, both graduated from Webb City High School. Rob Roy was a reporter for the Webb City Daily Sentinel while fulfilling requirements for his Boy Scout Eagle badge. He graduated in 1943 from Joplin Senior High School, where he was a captain in the ROTC, editor of the newspaper, president of the student body and a nationally ranked debater. While still in high school and employed at WMBH-AM, Broadcasting magazine cited him as the youngest news editor and announcer in the nation. He subsequently served as a reporter for the Joplin Globe and News Herald and a freelance reporter for United Press, Associated Negro Press and Boston Post. He was an editor and assistant to the director of publications of the National Education Association and a school administrator at Montgomery County, Maryland. He joined the CIA in 1952.
After high school, he attended Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1944. He served in the Pacific during World War II with the Fifth Marine Division. He returned to this area after the war and graduated from Joplin Junior College. In 1947, he went to Washington, D.C. to attend American University, where he received his bachelor's and doctorate degrees in public administration and served as an instructor in the School of Government.
Missouri Southern State University (formerly Joplin Junior College) honored Mr. Ratliff as an Outstanding Alumnus in 2013.
Mr. Ratliff was active in genealogy research and served as chairman of the Montgomery County Genealogy Club and was a book reviewer for the Prince George's Genealogy Society. He was a lifetime member of the genealogy group in Neosho, Missouri, and of the National Education Association.
Mr. Ratliff was a longtime member of First Church of Christ, Scientist in Rockville, Maryland, where he had served as first reader, president and chairman of the board of trustees. He was also a member of The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, Massachusetts.
Mr. Ratliff is survived by his wife of 71 years, Rebecca "Becky" (Shaw) Ratliff, of Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg. She was from Joplin, and they were classmates at Joplin Junior College and married on June 12, 1948. Also surviving are three daughters, Carol Drury (Bradley), Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Beth Atwell (Neal), Olney, Maryland, and Ann Heinrich (John), Arlington, Virginia; and two grandsons, Justin Gordon and Kirby Drury.
A memorial service will be held in the Guild Chapel at Asbury on July 10 at 1:30 p.m.
Inurnment in Arlington Cemetery is planned.
Webb City Sentinel (Webb City, Missouri); July 10, 2019, Wed.; Page 5, Columns 4-5.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Feb 12, 1944
A third son, Rob Roy Ratliff, has enlisted as a Private in the Marine Corps and will report February 21, 1944 to San Diego, CA, for training.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Sept 23, 1945
A brother, Rob Roy Ratliff, will arrive next week, having been discharged at Camp LeJeune following overseas service in the Marine Corps.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
March 31, 1946
Rob Roy Ratliff accepted position as Announcer for the Boy Scout Circus.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
April 12, 1946
Rob Roy Ratliff was an escort for a Joplin Junior College Yearbook Queen attendant.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
May 1, 1946
YMCA Table Tennis Tournament; J.T. Jones vs Rob Roy Ratliff.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Sept 13, 1946
Selected for planning committee and later as a council member of the WWII veterans of Joplin Community College.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Sept 22, 1946
For those who admired the public address voice at the stadium here for the Missouri and Arkansas B football game Thursday night in all that drizzle, credit goes to Rob Roy Ratliff who certainly did a fine job.
---------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
June 20, 1948
On 12 Jun 1948 he married Rebecca Theodosia Shaw in Joplin, MO.
----------------------------------------
He was graduated from Joplin Senior High School where he was President of the Gavel and Quill Literary Society, Natl Forsenic League Chapter and was a member of the Natl Honor Society. He was active in debating and oratorical activities and ranked fifth in the United States in the NFL organization at his graduation. He was a Cadet Captain in the ROTC and attended Boys' State and was Senator from Missouri at the National Student Congress in 1943 where he was selected as the Outstanding Member of the Senate. He attended Principia College, Elsah, IL and was graduated from Joplin Junior College where he was Editor of The Chart, college newspaper. He was graduated this June from the American University in Washington, DC with a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration. He was a member of the American University Intl Debate Team meeting both Cambridge and Oxford Universities. He was head resident of McDowell House and a member of the Student Govt group. During WWII he served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the South Pacific area.
-------------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Feb 26, 1950
Rob Roy Ratliff, assistant to the director of publications of the National Education Association, represented the organization in a Appeared on television discussion of American college educational programs this week. He is working on his PhD in Public Administration.
----------------------------------------
Mr. Ratliff served six years at the White House on the staff of the National Security Council during the administrations of Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter. He was the senior CIA representative and was executive secretary of the 40 Committee, which approved clandestine operations.
Ratliff later served as Executive assistant to CIA Director Admiral Stansfield Turner and was a member of the CIA inspector general's staff when he retired in 1980.
He was a CIA senior executive service office and received many commendations including the Intelligence Medal of Merit. Most of his 28-year CIA career was in the clandestine service and included tours in the Philippines, Taiwan and Guyana.
Mr. Ratliff was born on January 23, 1926, in Webb City, Missouri, to Claude F. and Carol "E.C." (Magruder) Ratliff, longtime residents of Webb City and Joplin. His father was vice president of the Empire District Electric Company. His older sister and brother, Virginia and Dregor, both graduated from Webb City High School. Rob Roy was a reporter for the Webb City Daily Sentinel while fulfilling requirements for his Boy Scout Eagle badge. He graduated in 1943 from Joplin Senior High School, where he was a captain in the ROTC, editor of the newspaper, president of the student body and a nationally ranked debater. While still in high school and employed at WMBH-AM, Broadcasting magazine cited him as the youngest news editor and announcer in the nation. He subsequently served as a reporter for the Joplin Globe and News Herald and a freelance reporter for United Press, Associated Negro Press and Boston Post. He was an editor and assistant to the director of publications of the National Education Association and a school administrator at Montgomery County, Maryland. He joined the CIA in 1952.
After high school, he attended Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1944. He served in the Pacific during World War II with the Fifth Marine Division. He returned to this area after the war and graduated from Joplin Junior College. In 1947, he went to Washington, D.C. to attend American University, where he received his bachelor's and doctorate degrees in public administration and served as an instructor in the School of Government.
Missouri Southern State University (formerly Joplin Junior College) honored Mr. Ratliff as an Outstanding Alumnus in 2013.
Mr. Ratliff was active in genealogy research and served as chairman of the Montgomery County Genealogy Club and was a book reviewer for the Prince George's Genealogy Society. He was a lifetime member of the genealogy group in Neosho, Missouri, and of the National Education Association.
Mr. Ratliff was a longtime member of First Church of Christ, Scientist in Rockville, Maryland, where he had served as first reader, president and chairman of the board of trustees. He was also a member of The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, Massachusetts.
Mr. Ratliff is survived by his wife of 71 years, Rebecca "Becky" (Shaw) Ratliff, of Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg. She was from Joplin, and they were classmates at Joplin Junior College and married on June 12, 1948. Also surviving are three daughters, Carol Drury (Bradley), Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Beth Atwell (Neal), Olney, Maryland, and Ann Heinrich (John), Arlington, Virginia; and two grandsons, Justin Gordon and Kirby Drury.
A memorial service will be held in the Guild Chapel at Asbury on July 10 at 1:30 p.m.
Inurnment in Arlington Cemetery is planned.
Webb City Sentinel (Webb City, Missouri); July 10, 2019, Wed.; Page 5, Columns 4-5.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Feb 12, 1944
A third son, Rob Roy Ratliff, has enlisted as a Private in the Marine Corps and will report February 21, 1944 to San Diego, CA, for training.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Sept 23, 1945
A brother, Rob Roy Ratliff, will arrive next week, having been discharged at Camp LeJeune following overseas service in the Marine Corps.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
March 31, 1946
Rob Roy Ratliff accepted position as Announcer for the Boy Scout Circus.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
April 12, 1946
Rob Roy Ratliff was an escort for a Joplin Junior College Yearbook Queen attendant.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
May 1, 1946
YMCA Table Tennis Tournament; J.T. Jones vs Rob Roy Ratliff.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Sept 13, 1946
Selected for planning committee and later as a council member of the WWII veterans of Joplin Community College.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Sept 22, 1946
For those who admired the public address voice at the stadium here for the Missouri and Arkansas B football game Thursday night in all that drizzle, credit goes to Rob Roy Ratliff who certainly did a fine job.
---------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
June 20, 1948
On 12 Jun 1948 he married Rebecca Theodosia Shaw in Joplin, MO.
----------------------------------------
He was graduated from Joplin Senior High School where he was President of the Gavel and Quill Literary Society, Natl Forsenic League Chapter and was a member of the Natl Honor Society. He was active in debating and oratorical activities and ranked fifth in the United States in the NFL organization at his graduation. He was a Cadet Captain in the ROTC and attended Boys' State and was Senator from Missouri at the National Student Congress in 1943 where he was selected as the Outstanding Member of the Senate. He attended Principia College, Elsah, IL and was graduated from Joplin Junior College where he was Editor of The Chart, college newspaper. He was graduated this June from the American University in Washington, DC with a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration. He was a member of the American University Intl Debate Team meeting both Cambridge and Oxford Universities. He was head resident of McDowell House and a member of the Student Govt group. During WWII he served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the South Pacific area.
-------------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Feb 26, 1950
Rob Roy Ratliff, assistant to the director of publications of the National Education Association, represented the organization in a Appeared on television discussion of American college educational programs this week. He is working on his PhD in Public Administration.
----------------------------------------
Rob Roy Ratliff, Ph.D., 93, a retired Central Intelligence Agency and White House executive, died of heart failure on July 1, 2019 at his home in Gaithersburg, Maryland. A 41-year resident of Rockville, Marland, he moved to Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, in September 2007.
Mr. Ratliff served six years at the White House on the staff of the National Security Council during the administrations of Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter. He was the senior CIA representative and was executive secretary of the 40 Committee, which approved clandestine operations.
Ratliff later served as Executive assistant to CIA Director Admiral Stansfield Turner and was a member of the CIA inspector general's staff when he retired in 1980.
He was a CIA senior executive service office and received many commendations including the Intelligence Medal of Merit. Most of his 28-year CIA career was in the clandestine service and included tours in the Philippines, Taiwan and Guyana.
Mr. Ratliff was born on January 23, 1926, in Webb City, Missouri, to Claude F. and Carol "E.C." (Magruder) Ratliff, longtime residents of Webb City and Joplin. His father was vice president of the Empire District Electric Company. His older sister and brother, Virginia and Dregor, both graduated from Webb City High School. Rob Roy was a reporter for the Webb City Daily Sentinel while fulfilling requirements for his Boy Scout Eagle badge. He graduated in 1943 from Joplin Senior High School, where he was a captain in the ROTC, editor of the newspaper, president of the student body and a nationally ranked debater. While still in high school and employed at WMBH-AM, Broadcasting magazine cited him as the youngest news editor and announcer in the nation. He subsequently served as a reporter for the Joplin Globe and News Herald and a freelance reporter for United Press, Associated Negro Press and Boston Post. He was an editor and assistant to the director of publications of the National Education Association and a school administrator at Montgomery County, Maryland. He joined the CIA in 1952.
After high school, he attended Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1944. He served in the Pacific during World War II with the Fifth Marine Division. He returned to this area after the war and graduated from Joplin Junior College. In 1947, he went to Washington, D.C. to attend American University, where he received his bachelor's and doctorate degrees in public administration and served as an instructor in the School of Government.
Missouri Southern State University (formerly Joplin Junior College) honored Mr. Ratliff as an Outstanding Alumnus in 2013.
Mr. Ratliff was active in genealogy research and served as chairman of the Montgomery County Genealogy Club and was a book reviewer for the Prince George's Genealogy Society. He was a lifetime member of the genealogy group in Neosho, Missouri, and of the National Education Association.
Mr. Ratliff was a longtime member of First Church of Christ, Scientist in Rockville, Maryland, where he had served as first reader, president and chairman of the board of trustees. He was also a member of The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, Massachusetts.
Mr. Ratliff is survived by his wife of 71 years, Rebecca "Becky" (Shaw) Ratliff, of Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg. She was from Joplin, and they were classmates at Joplin Junior College and married on June 12, 1948. Also surviving are three daughters, Carol Drury (Bradley), Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Beth Atwell (Neal), Olney, Maryland, and Ann Heinrich (John), Arlington, Virginia; and two grandsons, Justin Gordon and Kirby Drury.
A memorial service will be held in the Guild Chapel at Asbury on July 10 at 1:30 p.m.
Inurnment in Arlington Cemetery is planned.
Webb City Sentinel (Webb City, Missouri); July 10, 2019, Wed.; Page 5, Columns 4-5.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Feb 12, 1944
A third son, Rob Roy Ratliff, has enlisted as a Private in the Marine Corps and will report February 21, 1944 to San Diego, CA, for training.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Sept 23, 1945
A brother, Rob Roy Ratliff, will arrive next week, having been discharged at Camp LeJeune following overseas service in the Marine Corps.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
March 31, 1946
Rob Roy Ratliff accepted position as Announcer for the Boy Scout Circus.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
April 12, 1946
Rob Roy Ratliff was an escort for a Joplin Junior College Yearbook Queen attendant.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
May 1, 1946
YMCA Table Tennis Tournament; J.T. Jones vs Rob Roy Ratliff.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Sept 13, 1946
Selected for planning committee and later as a council member of the WWII veterans of Joplin Community College.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Sept 22, 1946
For those who admired the public address voice at the stadium here for the Missouri and Arkansas B football game Thursday night in all that drizzle, credit goes to Rob Roy Ratliff who certainly did a fine job.
---------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
June 20, 1948
On 12 Jun 1948 he married Rebecca Theodosia Shaw in Joplin, MO.
----------------------------------------
He was graduated from Joplin Senior High School where he was President of the Gavel and Quill Literary Society, Natl Forsenic League Chapter and was a member of the Natl Honor Society. He was active in debating and oratorical activities and ranked fifth in the United States in the NFL organization at his graduation. He was a Cadet Captain in the ROTC and attended Boys' State and was Senator from Missouri at the National Student Congress in 1943 where he was selected as the Outstanding Member of the Senate. He attended Principia College, Elsah, IL and was graduated from Joplin Junior College where he was Editor of The Chart, college newspaper. He was graduated this June from the American University in Washington, DC with a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration. He was a member of the American University Intl Debate Team meeting both Cambridge and Oxford Universities. He was head resident of McDowell House and a member of the Student Govt group. During WWII he served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the South Pacific area.
-------------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Feb 26, 1950
Rob Roy Ratliff, assistant to the director of publications of the National Education Association, represented the organization in a Appeared on television discussion of American college educational programs this week. He is working on his PhD in Public Administration.
----------------------------------------
Mr. Ratliff served six years at the White House on the staff of the National Security Council during the administrations of Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter. He was the senior CIA representative and was executive secretary of the 40 Committee, which approved clandestine operations.
Ratliff later served as Executive assistant to CIA Director Admiral Stansfield Turner and was a member of the CIA inspector general's staff when he retired in 1980.
He was a CIA senior executive service office and received many commendations including the Intelligence Medal of Merit. Most of his 28-year CIA career was in the clandestine service and included tours in the Philippines, Taiwan and Guyana.
Mr. Ratliff was born on January 23, 1926, in Webb City, Missouri, to Claude F. and Carol "E.C." (Magruder) Ratliff, longtime residents of Webb City and Joplin. His father was vice president of the Empire District Electric Company. His older sister and brother, Virginia and Dregor, both graduated from Webb City High School. Rob Roy was a reporter for the Webb City Daily Sentinel while fulfilling requirements for his Boy Scout Eagle badge. He graduated in 1943 from Joplin Senior High School, where he was a captain in the ROTC, editor of the newspaper, president of the student body and a nationally ranked debater. While still in high school and employed at WMBH-AM, Broadcasting magazine cited him as the youngest news editor and announcer in the nation. He subsequently served as a reporter for the Joplin Globe and News Herald and a freelance reporter for United Press, Associated Negro Press and Boston Post. He was an editor and assistant to the director of publications of the National Education Association and a school administrator at Montgomery County, Maryland. He joined the CIA in 1952.
After high school, he attended Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1944. He served in the Pacific during World War II with the Fifth Marine Division. He returned to this area after the war and graduated from Joplin Junior College. In 1947, he went to Washington, D.C. to attend American University, where he received his bachelor's and doctorate degrees in public administration and served as an instructor in the School of Government.
Missouri Southern State University (formerly Joplin Junior College) honored Mr. Ratliff as an Outstanding Alumnus in 2013.
Mr. Ratliff was active in genealogy research and served as chairman of the Montgomery County Genealogy Club and was a book reviewer for the Prince George's Genealogy Society. He was a lifetime member of the genealogy group in Neosho, Missouri, and of the National Education Association.
Mr. Ratliff was a longtime member of First Church of Christ, Scientist in Rockville, Maryland, where he had served as first reader, president and chairman of the board of trustees. He was also a member of The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, Massachusetts.
Mr. Ratliff is survived by his wife of 71 years, Rebecca "Becky" (Shaw) Ratliff, of Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg. She was from Joplin, and they were classmates at Joplin Junior College and married on June 12, 1948. Also surviving are three daughters, Carol Drury (Bradley), Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Beth Atwell (Neal), Olney, Maryland, and Ann Heinrich (John), Arlington, Virginia; and two grandsons, Justin Gordon and Kirby Drury.
A memorial service will be held in the Guild Chapel at Asbury on July 10 at 1:30 p.m.
Inurnment in Arlington Cemetery is planned.
Webb City Sentinel (Webb City, Missouri); July 10, 2019, Wed.; Page 5, Columns 4-5.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Feb 12, 1944
A third son, Rob Roy Ratliff, has enlisted as a Private in the Marine Corps and will report February 21, 1944 to San Diego, CA, for training.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Sept 23, 1945
A brother, Rob Roy Ratliff, will arrive next week, having been discharged at Camp LeJeune following overseas service in the Marine Corps.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
March 31, 1946
Rob Roy Ratliff accepted position as Announcer for the Boy Scout Circus.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
April 12, 1946
Rob Roy Ratliff was an escort for a Joplin Junior College Yearbook Queen attendant.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
May 1, 1946
YMCA Table Tennis Tournament; J.T. Jones vs Rob Roy Ratliff.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Sept 13, 1946
Selected for planning committee and later as a council member of the WWII veterans of Joplin Community College.
----------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Sept 22, 1946
For those who admired the public address voice at the stadium here for the Missouri and Arkansas B football game Thursday night in all that drizzle, credit goes to Rob Roy Ratliff who certainly did a fine job.
---------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
June 20, 1948
On 12 Jun 1948 he married Rebecca Theodosia Shaw in Joplin, MO.
----------------------------------------
He was graduated from Joplin Senior High School where he was President of the Gavel and Quill Literary Society, Natl Forsenic League Chapter and was a member of the Natl Honor Society. He was active in debating and oratorical activities and ranked fifth in the United States in the NFL organization at his graduation. He was a Cadet Captain in the ROTC and attended Boys' State and was Senator from Missouri at the National Student Congress in 1943 where he was selected as the Outstanding Member of the Senate. He attended Principia College, Elsah, IL and was graduated from Joplin Junior College where he was Editor of The Chart, college newspaper. He was graduated this June from the American University in Washington, DC with a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration. He was a member of the American University Intl Debate Team meeting both Cambridge and Oxford Universities. He was head resident of McDowell House and a member of the Student Govt group. During WWII he served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the South Pacific area.
-------------------------------------------
Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO)
Feb 26, 1950
Rob Roy Ratliff, assistant to the director of publications of the National Education Association, represented the organization in a Appeared on television discussion of American college educational programs this week. He is working on his PhD in Public Administration.
----------------------------------------
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
