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Earth: God's Lost Colony
193 pages
First published January 1, 2002
15 people want to read
About the author
Arthur M. "Smiley" Ratliff
3 books9 followersARTHUR M. (SMILEY) RATLIFF, JR., age 83, of Tazewell, Virginia, died Wednesday, October 31, 2007, in a Kingsport Hospital. A Buchanan County native, he was born June 18, 1924, the son of the late Arthur M. Ratliff, Sr., and Ida Woosley Ratliff, and was the last surviving member of his immediate family. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers and four sisters.
He is survived by two daughters, Cathy Gibson and Kim Bowman, and five grandchildren: William Cody Ratcliffe Miller; Rebecca Paige Gibson; Anne Eyre Bowman; Adam Shoresworth Ratcliffe Bowman; and Grayden Bowman.
Mr. Ratliff was a life-long resident of Grundy located in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. He loved his State of Virginia and the county of Buchanan. He was a noted athlete during his teen years, excelling in football. He was a former teacher/coach, a successful businessman and an author, having written four books.
A veteran of World War II and the Korean War, Mr. Ratliff was presented with nineteen medals for service to his country. He was awarded the bronze star for valor for capturing an enemy machine gun nest in 1950. Other medals included the United Nations Service Medal, Victory Medal for service in World War II, and two Purple Hearts.
After returning from the Korean War, Mr. Ratliff was a football coach at Hurley High School from 1952-1954, having established the school’s first football program. Those years were among his most cherished memories. Entering the mining business in 1955, he became successful as a businessman, later building businesses in banking, cattle and land. He was the largest individual landowner east of the Mississippi River, and once owned the fifth largest cattle outfit in the United States. He was the founder of Miners and Merchants Bank of Grundy, First Bank and Trust, of Lebanon, and the Big Stone Gap Bank and Trust, of Big Stone Gap, Virginia. He was also part owner of the Tanglewood and Crossroads Malls in Roanoke, Virginia.
Prior to his death he continued to operate the Anchorage Shopping Center, Anchor Motel in Grundy, multiple rental properties and other enterprises.
During his lifetime, Mr. Ratliff was privileged to have stepped on each of the seven continents. One of his favorite places was New Zealand, specifically Henderson Island off the eastern coast of Australia. He was featured in several major publications, including the Cincinnati Post and National Geographic. He was also profiled by the British Broadcasting Corporation.
An avid student of history throughout his life, Mr. Ratliff was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Emory and Henry College in Emory, VA.
He is survived by two daughters, Cathy Gibson and Kim Bowman, and five grandchildren: William Cody Ratcliffe Miller; Rebecca Paige Gibson; Anne Eyre Bowman; Adam Shoresworth Ratcliffe Bowman; and Grayden Bowman.
Mr. Ratliff was a life-long resident of Grundy located in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. He loved his State of Virginia and the county of Buchanan. He was a noted athlete during his teen years, excelling in football. He was a former teacher/coach, a successful businessman and an author, having written four books.
A veteran of World War II and the Korean War, Mr. Ratliff was presented with nineteen medals for service to his country. He was awarded the bronze star for valor for capturing an enemy machine gun nest in 1950. Other medals included the United Nations Service Medal, Victory Medal for service in World War II, and two Purple Hearts.
After returning from the Korean War, Mr. Ratliff was a football coach at Hurley High School from 1952-1954, having established the school’s first football program. Those years were among his most cherished memories. Entering the mining business in 1955, he became successful as a businessman, later building businesses in banking, cattle and land. He was the largest individual landowner east of the Mississippi River, and once owned the fifth largest cattle outfit in the United States. He was the founder of Miners and Merchants Bank of Grundy, First Bank and Trust, of Lebanon, and the Big Stone Gap Bank and Trust, of Big Stone Gap, Virginia. He was also part owner of the Tanglewood and Crossroads Malls in Roanoke, Virginia.
Prior to his death he continued to operate the Anchorage Shopping Center, Anchor Motel in Grundy, multiple rental properties and other enterprises.
During his lifetime, Mr. Ratliff was privileged to have stepped on each of the seven continents. One of his favorite places was New Zealand, specifically Henderson Island off the eastern coast of Australia. He was featured in several major publications, including the Cincinnati Post and National Geographic. He was also profiled by the British Broadcasting Corporation.
An avid student of history throughout his life, Mr. Ratliff was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Emory and Henry College in Emory, VA.
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