Mike Ragsdale began serving as Knox County Mayor in August 2002. After re-election, he began his second term in September 2006. Since the beginning of his administration, Mayor Ragsdale has pursued four priorities – education, economic growth, seniors and veterans, and a more efficient government.
Mayor Ragsdale is currently serving as President of the County Executives of America, an organization of more than 700 chief elected county officials. He previously served as president of the Tennessee Association of County Mayors.
During his tenure as Knox County Mayor, Ragsdale has received the Vision Award from Technology 20/20 and the prestigious "Courthouse Award" from the National Association of Counties. Only three of these are awarded annually for excellence in government operations. Committed to veterans’ services, Mayor Ragsdale was given the Outstanding Service Award from the Disabled American Veterans of East Tennessee and the "Military Order of the Purple Heart."
Before becoming Mayor, Ragsdale served two terms as Knox County Commissioner in the Fifth Commission District while working as a partner and vice president at Barber & McMurry architecture firm for 16 years. Prior to that, Ragsdale was working in education at Pellissippi State Technical Community College, first as Director of Admission and Records and later as Dean of Administrative Affairs. As Dean, he oversaw a 73% enrollment growth for the school and worked with the State Board of Regents to plan the college’s new campus.
Mayor Ragsdale has been active in a wide variety of civic and community activities throughout his career. He currently serves as the Vice Chairman for EdSouth, one of the country's largest student loan corporations.
He is a past president of the Arts Council of Greater Knoxville, American Red Cross, Junior Achievement, East Tennessee Discovery Center and the Optimist Club of Knoxville. He served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Knoxville Sports Corporation, Knox Area Chamber Partnership, and was Chairman of the Knox County Tourist Commission. Mayor Ragsdale is also a 1989 graduate of Leadership Knoxville.
Ragsdale is a native of Cleveland, Tennessee, and graduated from Cleveland High School. The first in his family to attend college, he received a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee, earning the Torchbearer award, the highest University award given to students. In 1977, Ragsdale, completed his master's in education from Auburn University and in 1981, earned a doctorate in education from UT.
