State-Journal.com - Landlord Rodney Ratliff dies

Rodney Ratliff

Rodney Ratliff, a prominent Frankfort businessman and one of state government’s biggest landlords, has died.

“He was one of the leading citizens in Frankfort, doing a great deal for people not only in this community, but in the state,” said William Johnson, Ratliff’s attorney and friend for more than 50 years.

“You certainly could enjoy his company. He was a lot of fun to be around, and an extremely brilliant individual.”

Ratliff, 76, was involved in political enterprises, contributing to the campaigns of both Democrats and Republicans.

He owned Ratliff’s Self Storage Center, rental properties and previously ran a scrap metal business.

In 2007, he approached state and local governments with a $56.5 million deal to sell nine office buildings.

He died Thursday at Norton Hospital in Louisville after a heart attack. Funeral services are pending at Harrod Brothers Funeral Home.

Born in Elkhorn City, Ratliff was the youngest of 12 children.

He moved to Frankfort in 1952 after graduating from EKU with a bachelor’s degree in business. He and his brother William started a scrap yard, and he continued to grow his business and property holdings.

“He loved to travel – I think he’d been everywhere but Russia,” said Leslie Driskell, who worked for Ratliff since 1992. “He loved life, his family and his dog.”

Ratliff gave to both causes and individuals, Johnson said.

He donated the building that houses the Capital City Museum in downtown Frankfort, and gave property to the state and Capital Day School, Johnson said.

He called Ratliff an “extremely bright student, and a hard worker” who attended Eastern Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky.

“He was a person who never stopped studying,” he said. “He was a great reader of historical books and newspapers, and he kept himself well informed.”

Ratliff sat on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation Board of Directors, and was involved with the Salvation Army and the EKU College of Business and Technology, where a scholarship bears his name.

He also served on the Kentucky State University Foundation board, and the Frankfort Plant Board, Driskell said.

He was an active member of Farmdale Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Lois; two daughters, Melanie and Beth; four grandchildren; one sister; and two brothers.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, the Humane Society or Farmdale Baptist Church.

3.	Posted by daniel2497451 December 27, 2009
	Years ago, my granddaddy, who was an engineer on the C&O Railroad, would spend the night with his good friends, Rodney's parents, while on layover on his Elkhorn City run. Although, at that time, Rodney was just a glint in his daddy's eye, being the youngest of a large family. His parents were always very hospitable to my grandfather and he enjoyed their company. Many years later, I tended bar for Rodney at his house in Frankfort for a several of his parties. He would call us all together into a huddle before the party and tell us, "Pour 'em stiff, boys, I want 'em to know where they've been." We did just as he said and I saw some of Kentucky's most dignified white men get wobbly-legged drunk. It was funny really. Rodney was always very generous at the end of the day with the caterers, often giving them full bottles of expensive liquors...and always a gentleman throughout. Rodney, you did pretty good for a country boy from Elkhorn City...you would have made your daddy and momma proud. He was good to everybody because that is the way he was raised. He was good to the state too, as he donated the Pea Ridge Wildlife Preserve to FIsh and Wildlife. It has some of the least disturbed forest in the state, and is a treasure that present and future generations can enjoy. BTW, I am sure that Rodney would not have been offended because the reporter got confused about the cause of death...he was not that petty. He would have just smiled...