1 State of Arkansas
2 94th General Assembly
3 Fiscal Session, 2024 HR 1060
4
5 By: Representative M. Shepherd
6
7 HOUSE RESOLUTION
8 CONGRATULATING ROY RAGLAND, CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE
9 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, UPON HIS RETIREMENT, AND
10 COMMENDING HIM FOR HIS NINETEEN YEARS OF
11 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND TO
12 THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.
13
14
15 Subtitle
16 CONGRATULATING ROY RAGLAND, CHIEF OF
17 STAFF FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
18 UPON HIS RETIREMENT, AND COMMENDING HIM
19 FOR HIS NINETEEN YEARS OF CONTRIBUTIONS
20 TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND TO
21 THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.
22
23
24 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL
25 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
26
27 WHEREAS, Roy Ragland began his career with the House of Representatives
28 in 2005 and after nineteen (19) years with the state will retire; and
29
30 WHEREAS, Roy Ragland, was elected to the House of Representatives in
31 2004 to represent the citizens of Madison County, Newton County, and parts of
32 Searcy County; and
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34 WHEREAS, Roy Ragland served his district and the State of Arkansas as a
35 member of the House of Representatives from 2005 through 2011; and
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 HR1060
1 WHEREAS, Roy Ragland was known to his colleagues in the House of
2 Representatives as a man of dignity, a man who looked after the interests of
3 all citizens of the state, and a man of his word; and
4
5 WHEREAS, after leaving the House of Representatives, Roy Ragland
6 continued his service in state government by working as the Deputy Director
7 of Governmental Affairs for former Secretary of State Mark Martin; and
8
9 WHEREAS, understanding the need for a person with knowledge of the
10 House of Representatives, former Speaker Davy Carter brought Roy Ragland back
11 to the place he belonged as the Director of Member Services in December of
12 2012; and
13
14 WHEREAS, Roy Ragland's commitment to and love of the House of
15 Representatives was evident to members on both sides of the aisle, and in
16 2016 he was promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff by former Speaker Jeremy
17 Gillam; and
18
19 WHEREAS, just one (1) year later, former Speaker Gillam promoted Roy
20 Ragland to serve as the Chief of Staff for the House of Representatives; and
21
22 WHEREAS, Roy Ragland, while working for the House of Representatives,
23 earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Minor in History in
24 August of 2018 and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the
25 University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2020; and
26
27 WHEREAS, Roy Ragland has witnessed the evolution of the change in
28 majority party control from Democratic to Republican for the first time since
29 Reconstruction in the House of Representatives; and
30
31 WHEREAS, Roy Ragland has been a counselor, mentor, confidant, and
32 friend to the House of Representatives members and House of Representatives
33 staff while preserving the standard of his role in the House of
34 Representatives and protecting the legislative institution as a whole; and
35
36 WHEREAS, Roy Ragland is admired and respected by the members of the
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 HR1060
1 House of Representatives for his discretion, historical knowledge of the
2 House of Representatives, humor, kindness, and insight; and
3
4 WHEREAS, Roy Ragland has been integral in forging a strong working
5 relationship between the House of Representatives and the Bureau of
6 Legislative Research and has done so to ensure a cohesive General Assembly
7 that works toward a common goal; and
8
9 WHEREAS, while Roy Ragland will be greatly missed by the General
10 Assembly, his retirement will allow him to spend more time with his wife Gail
11 Ragland, his son Jeremy, and his extended family; and
12
13 WHEREAS, Speaker Matthew Shepherd stated “Roy’s dedication and tireless
14 commitment to the House has helped the General Assembly through numerous
15 challenges and successes. From organizing a session in a basketball arena
16 during an unprecedented time to daily ensuring members and staff have what
17 they need to serve the people of Arkansas, Roy has been an invaluable member
18 of my leadership team and I will miss his counsel. I wish him the very best
19 in his well-earned retirement”,
20
21 NOW THEREFORE,
22 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL
23 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
24
25 THAT the House of Representatives commends Roy Ragland for his
26 distinguished service to the State of Arkansas and the legislative branch of
27 government, thanks him for his countless contributions, and wishes him all
28 the best in his retirement.
29
30 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT upon adoption, a copy of this resolution shall be
31 provided to Roy Ragland by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives.
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