Saying Farewell to Tom Ratliff

KEC lost a dear friend and man who helped shape the co-op into what it is today with the passing of former General Manager, Tom Ratliff. Tom had an impact on every life that he touched. He earned the respect of his employees and peers by leading with wisdom, fairness, and compassion.

An observer of Tom’s life could see the hand of God directing his path and always leading him back to the co-op. Tom shared the story of leaving a job with the Airforce base in Wichita Falls, Texas to come back to the home place to care for his cattle, trusting the Lord to provide him with a job close to by. That provision came quickly. As Tom and his wife, Marie pulled into the driveway of their home in Gowen, OK the then Co-op Manager, Otha Beard pulled in behind them with an offer of the accountant job at KEC.

Tom served in this role for several years, then answered God’s call to serve as Pastor to a Baptist Church in Ramona, Oklahoma. Tom said that the very day when he knew that his ministry there was coming to an end, once again Otha Beard called him to ask him to lunch to discuss coming back to KEC to serve as Office Manager. Tom held this position until accepting the General Managers position in 1974. He retired from the cooperative in 1987. But that was not the end for Tom and KEC. Tom came back to serve as interim manager in 1997.

Tom was a treasure trove of wisdom to KEC and to all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.