 Denison, Texas  Abner Ragsdale's mother was the granddaughter of Pushmataha, "the Indian General" (1764-1824). His father was English. In his young years he was noted for swimming the length of the Denison Dam and back, sometimes more than once. He went to Austin College on a rootball ride. Majored in Biology. Military made him a Medic. He spend a year in a coma at the San Diego Naval Hospital from taing a direct hit to his helmet at Iow Jima. He created a science lab at Central Ward for all grades to share; Taught science at McDaniel and Golden Rule at different times.He also built a fire under many a scientist in his science class. He knew what it meant to be a dad; he was a surrogate father for every boy that needed one, but they had to share. He had a following of campers and explorere that combed the riverbanks for sharks' teeth and arrowheads. He wrote a thesis for a PHD but never turned it in for acceptance. He said he was happy to have the honorary degree of "professor" and preferred to be called "Rags". He paid for over 30 boys to go to college. He left a sizable estate to an orphanage. --- Doug Hoover  Golden Rule School History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |