The Simple Principle of Kindness

By Amy Charles, MBA ’23

Retired Pikeville dentist William C. Ratliff, DMD, a prominent figure and community leader, found an unconventional way to help students pay for college. The profitable natural gas well that Ratliff donated to the university has provided scholarships for UPIKE students since 2016. Named in honor of his parents, who instilled in him the values of faith and education, the Dr. and Mrs. A. T. Ratliff Scholarship benefits Eastern Kentucky students seeking to pursue their dreams of higher education.

My father was a dentist and my mother brought me up in church. Together, they taught me about the transformative power of education,” said Ratliff. “They would be proud that Eastern Kentucky students are going to college with a scholarship that bears their name.

Ratliff has a deep-rooted connection to the institution that shaped his early years. In 1945, he enrolled at then Pikeville College. However, Ratliff's academic journey took a detour when duty called. Enlisting in the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, Ratliff hoped to serve his country while playing in the military band with his friends. But when he failed his vision exam for airborne, he was sent to East Asia to assist in the occupation of South Korea. After 18 months, Ratliff was called home and honorably discharged when his father received a cancer diagnosis. He later returned to “the hill” to play basketball for the Bears and resume his studies in biology. This eventually led him to venture into dentistry, a decision that would define his lifeʼs work.

His career began at the corner of Second Street and Caroline Avenue where he joined his father’s practice after graduating from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. Ratliff continued his education to expand his services to provide orthodontics and prosthodontics to the area.

Throughout his prestigious dental career, Ratliff did not just create healthy smiles, he also gave back to the community that supported him.

Operating on the simple principle of kindness, Ratliff often provided dental care at no cost to many in Pikeville, particularly free extractions to residents of the Parkview Manor Nursing Home where his wife worked as a nurse. His commitment to philanthropy became a hallmark of his character, earning him the admiration and gratitude of the townspeople.

As the university prepares to open a dental school, Ratliff expressed joy in knowing that the community will soon benefit from increased access to quality dental care.

“The shortage of dental services in our area has been a concern for many years,” said Ratliff. “I’m pleased to see the university taking a proactive step in addressing this issue by opening a dental school. It’s an investment in the health and wellbeing of our community.”

Ratliff’s commitment to providing care in rural regions is echoed in the anesthesiology career of his daughter, Mary Jo Ratliff, M.D., and in the aspirations of his grandson, William C. Fleniken, a current student at the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine. Ratliff's support for UPIKE is not just a financial contribution but an endorsement of the institution’s commitment to meeting the healthcare needs of the region.

“It’s about giving back,” said Ratliff. “And ensuring that future generations have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive right here in our own community.”