Silas B. “Si” Ragsdale Jr. began his camping career as a boy of 10 in the Texas Hill Country, and since that time, summer camping has been his greatest love.
Si attended Stewart as a boy and achieved a life-long dream when he and Kathy began buying Stewart in August, 1966. His experience in the camping field has been widely diversified from that of camper to owner/director of Camp Stewart and principal owner of Heart O’ the Hills Camp for Girls.
He is president of the National Camping Advisory Council and served on the first Governor’s Advisory Council of Youth Camp Safety for the State of Texas. Si is past president of Camp Association for Mutual Progress (C.A.M.P.)
He is a graduate of the first camp director’s seminar at George Williams College in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. He served as a member-at-large of the ACA’s first National Camping Council for Private-Independent Camps. Si is also a member of Christian Camping International.
A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin (and life member of the Texas Exes), Castle Heights Military Academy, and a former infantry officer, (Bronze Star and five battle stars ) he has served on the board and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Mo-Ranch; on the Texas Presbyterian Foundation Board, and as coordinator of Mo-Ranch’s Advisory Board.
Si is a past board member of the Texas Association of Businesses; a former western division vice-president of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, and was named to DTD Distinguished Service Chapter. He is a past board member of the Texas chapter of the United States Modern Pentathlon and the Foundation Board of Texas Woman’s University. He served on the Texas Leadership Institute Board. He is an elder of the First Presbyterian Church, Kerrville, where he and Kathy are members.
Kathy Coffey Ragsdale, Co-director, is ‘camp mother’. After loving the campers, her main areas of concentration are in the food service, beautification, publications and business area of both Stewart and Heart O’ the Hills.
A graduate of Texas Woman’s University with a BS and BA in journalism and English, she was editor of the Daily Lass-O, Redbud Queen, Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities and active in student government.
Following graduation, she worked for TWU in the Dean of Admission’s Office. She is a past national president of the TWU Alumnae Association as well as a life member. She and Si were the first chairpersons of the TWU Parent’s Association. In 1992 she was named a Distinguished Alumnae of Texas Woman’s University.
She is editor of the Camp Association for Mutual Progress (C.A.M.P.) newspaper and past member of the board of the Association of Independent Camps and the National Council of Programs for ACA. Kathy is past president of the Texas Hunter and Jumper Association.
Si and Kathy sent children to camp before buying Stewart and feel that having been ‘on both sides of the fence’ makes them more sensitive to parental needs and concerns.
Silas B. “Jeeper” Ragsdale III is Co-Director of Camp Stewart. He also is a part owner of both Camp Stewart and Heart O’ the Hills Camp for Girls.
Jeeper was born at Camp Stewart and has grown up in the camp environment. He, his wife Meredith, son Silas IV, and daughter Catherine, live on the camp property near the entrance. A graduate of San Antonio Academy and Tom Moore High School, he attended Schreiner College and studied in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. He has completed the ACA Basic Camp Director's Course and continues to hone his camping skills through experience and seminars.
Jeeper’s special emphasis is on general operations and equestrian activities, as well as overall programming. He takes a special interest in working with campers who have adjustment problems.
A widely recognized rider ( he was the first person to win double gold medals in the United States Olympic Festival, as well as being a consistent winner in Texas and AHSA Zone 7 Amateur Jumper Divisions ), Jeeper qualified as a Camp Horsemanship Association Master Instructor, is a nationally rated Polocrosse player and enjoys foxhunting in the off-season.
Jeeper was a 9-year Stewart honor camper, completed the Leadership Development Program, was a counselor and headed the horseback staff before assuming his current position. He has worked in every phase of the camp including the kitchen and maintenance.
He is a member of C.A.M.P, Association of Independent Camps, Christian Camping International, ACA and Tejas Vaqueros. He serves on the national board of the American Polocrosse Association as a member at large, on the boards of the Hill Country Youth Ranch, and the Big Springs Ranch Advisory Board. He formerly served as an equestrian advisor to the head of USMP.
Jeeper’s wife Meredith also works part-time in the Office and Canteen.
