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'''Herman Willard Rattliff''' (April 1, 1926 – May 29, 2014)[1] was a retired businessman from Campbellsville, Kentucky, who served from 1968 to 1986 as a Republican member of the Kentucky House of Representatives.[2] He authored the Rattliff-Ward Textbook Act of 1976.[3]

'''Herman Willard Rattliff''' (April 1, 1926 – May 29, 2014)[1] was a retired businessman from Campbellsville, Kentucky, who served from 1968 to 1986 as a Republican member of the Kentucky House of Representatives.[2] He was the co-author of the Rattliff-Ward Textbook Act of 1976.[3]

==Background==

==Background==

Rattliff was one of five sons and two daughters born to James W. Rattliff, Sr. (1904–1987), a tenant farmer, and the former Estell Dobson (1907–1984), a couple from Green County in south central Kentucky.[4] Ratliff's siblings were  Doris Leslie Rodgers of Campbellsville,J. W. Rattliff, Jr. (1928-2023), of Greensburg, Willya Marie Rattliff Cox (1936–2004) of Greensburg,[5] Emmett Wesley Rattliff (1924–1983) of Campbellsville, Ronald Gene "Ronnie" Rattliff (died 1990) of Greensburg,[6] and Vernon Reed Rattliff of Lexington, Kentucky.[1]

Rattliff was one of five sons and two daughters born to James W. Rattliff, Sr. (1904–1987), a tenant farmer, and the former Estell Dobson (1907–1984), a couple from Green County in south central Kentucky.[4] His siblings were  Doris Leslie Rodgers (1933-2017) of Campbellsville, J. W. Rattliff, Jr. (1928-2023), of Greensburg, Willya Marie Rattliff Cox (1936–2004) of Greensburg,[5] Emmett Wesley Rattliff (1924–1983) of Campbellsville, Ronald Gene "Ronnie" Rattliff (died 1990) of Greensburg,[6] and Vernon Reed Rattliff of Lexington, Kentucky.[1]

In 1951, Rattliff married the former Jewell Merritt (February 1, 1932 – November 4, 2025), a Campbellsville native. The couple had two children, David Brian Rattliff (born 1957), an attorney in Louisville, Kentucky, where he resides with his wife, Beth, and Kristi Lynn Hickerson (1960-deceased) of Campbellsville, and a grandchild, Cameron David Rattliff and wife Natalie, also of Louisville.[1]

In 1951, Rattliff married the former Jewell Merritt (February 1, 1932 – November 4, 2025), a Campbellsville native. The couple had two children, David Brian Rattliff (born 1957), an attorney in Louisville, Kentucky, where he resides with his wife, Beth, and Kristi Lynn Hickerson (1960-deceased) of Campbellsville, and a grandchild, Cameron David Rattliff and wife Natalie, also of Louisville.[1]

Rattliff was the Republican House Caucus chairman from 1976 to 1982.[1] He worked alongside State Senator [[Douglas Moseley]], formerly of Columbia and Campbellsville, who once described Rattliff as "one of the best legislators they ever had in Frankfort. . . If Herman Rattliff said it, he followed through."[11]

Rattliff was the Republican House Caucus chairman from 1976 to 1982.[1] He worked alongside State Senator [[Douglas Moseley]], formerly of Columbia and Campbellsville, who once described Rattliff as "one of the best legislators they ever had in Frankfort. . . If Herman Rattliff said it, he followed through."[11]

In 1981, Rattliff had a closer race than previously against the Democrat Rufus Hansford of Campbellsville. Kentucky legislative elections were switched to even years in 1984 to coincide with congressional elections. This meant that the legislature in Kentucky would be elected in years separate from the governor and other state constitutional officers. Hence the term to which Rattliff was elected on November 3, 1981, was extended to three years. On November 6, 1984, Rattliff won his last term by handily defeating the Campbellsville Democrat William "Tonnie" Ford. Neither Rattliff nor Moseley sought reelection in 1986, and the pair was succeeded, respectively, by fellow Republicans [[Ray Altman]] and the long serving David L. Williams of Burkesville, the seat of Cumberland County.[2]

In 1981, Rattliff had a closer race than previously against the Democrat Rufus Hansford of Campbellsville. Kentucky legislative elections were switched to even years in 1984 to coincide with congressional elections. This meant that the legislature in Kentucky would be elected in years separate from the governor and other state constitutional officers. Hence the term to which Rattliff was elected on November 3, 1981, was extended to three years. On November 6, 1984, Rattliff won his last term in the Kentucky House by handily defeating the Campbellsville Democrat William "Tonnie" Douglas Ford (1935-2022). Neither Rattliff nor Moseley sought reelection in 1986, and the pair was succeeded, respectively, by fellow Republicans [[Ray Altman]] and the long serving David L. Williams of Burkesville, the seat of Cumberland County.[2]

==Death==

==Death==

Rattliff died on May 29, 2014, in Campbellsville, Kentucky, at the age of eighty-eight. He is interred alongside his wife at Campbellsville Memorial Gardens.[1]

Rattliff died on May 29, 2014, in Campbellsville, Kentucky, at the age of eighty-eight. He is interred alongside his wife at Campbellsville Memorial Gardens.[1]