Ralph Plumlee Jr.

Ralph Plumlee, Jr. was born January 9, 1939, in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Ralph Plumlee, Sr. and Stella Mae (Cox) Plumlee. He passed away peacefully from this life on March 16, 2024, in Longview, Texas at the age of 85. Ralph graduated from Sunset High School in January 1957. He was President of his senior class, as well as Sunset High Student Body President. He was a member of Linz Pin, Hi-Y, Key Club, and President of National Honor Society. Additionally, he was a two-year letterman in baseball, and played basketball. After graduation, he attended Texas A&M University, where he played freshman baseball and was a varsity baseball letterman for 2 years. In 1959, Ralph was a member of the Southwest Conference Championship Team, earning All Southwest Conference honors. He was also a proud member of the “T” Association and Company L-2 of the Texas A&M Corp of Cadets. In 1960, Ralph graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Prior to graduation, Ralph was playing in a collegiate summer league in Huron, South Dakota where The Los Angeles Dodgers signed him to a contract, receiving a signing bonus that would make him the first “Bonus Baby” in Dodger franchise history. After his first season of minor league baseball, he returned to College Station and completed his degree, graduating with his original class in 1960. After which, he returned to the Dodgers and played shortstop until he suffered a career ending injury in 1964. Ralph then joined his father’s business in Port Aransas, which was centered around investments of hotels, restaurants, fishing guides, and entertainment. In all, there were 23 properties on the island to manage. The premier acquisition was Mathew’s Place, the center of boating and where guides would meet their fishing and hunting parties. Other properties included The Dunes, Sands, and White Marlin restaurants, Tropic Isle Motor Hotel, Driftwood Cottages, Sea Gull Cottages, Light House Cottages, Marlin Courts, and Enco Marina, just to name a few, since there was a total of 23 properties in all. On February 27, 1965, he married Olive Janice Money, who was from Columbus, Georgia, and was a flight attendant for Delta Airlines based out of Atlanta. He and Jan then moved back to Dallas and joined the family manufacturing business, Weben Industries, which designed and marketed automatic car wash equipment and the equipment for coin operated laundromats and numerous other high tech machinery. In December of 1965, they welcomed their daughter, Robin, and in March of 1967, they welcomed their son, Jamey. He continued with the family business until 1982 when he went into business for himself and created Rallee Development, where he developed land and sold real estate. Ralph later expanded Rallee Development to include the oil and gas industry. This kept him busy until December of 2023. Throughout his working life, Ralph developed a love for thoroughbred horses as well as horseracing. He was the owner of several thoroughbreds and had a training facility with a full size racetrack for them in Athens, Texas. Ralph’s love for baseball was shown through him and his mom being the first season ticket holders in Texas Rangers franchise history beginning in 1972. Enjoying front row views of visiting teams for many years, allowed Ralph to see and visit with his baseball buddies that were still in the game. His love for the game came full circle when his son, Jamey began to come up through little league, and Ralph was his one and only coach until he turned him over to Coach Al Hawes at Highland Park High School. He was actively involved in the North Dallas YMCA coaching his son and other area youth in basketball. However, one of his most proudest moments was while coaching in the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce Baseball Association, he lead his team to the North Dallas City Baseball Championship. Later on, he was involved and supported the Highland Park High School Athletics as Vice President of the Highland Park Athletic Booster Club. After his son’s high school baseball career, Ralph enjoyed traveling around the country to watch him play baseball for Louisiana Tech University and talking baseball and life with his teammates. Another love that Ralph had that brought him fond memories, besides living in Port Aransas on the beach, were living in the mountains of Ruidoso, New Mexico, family vacations in Acapulco, Mexico, and living on the farm in Athens, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph Plumlee Sr. and Stella Mae Cox Plumlee; in-laws, James Robert Money and Vela Mae Cox Money; sisters, LaRue Plumlee Bevier Williams and Marvel Plumlee Austin; and brother, Jim Plumlee. Ralph is survived by his wife of 59 years, Olive Janice (Jan) Money Plumlee, Daughter, Robin Plumlee Lee of Pascagoula, Mississippi; Son, James (Jamey) Plumlee and wife, Karen of Longview, Texas; Grandsons, Trip Lee, Garrett Plumlee, Grant Taylor Lee, Jackson Lee, and Jordan Lee; and many nieces and nephews. If desired, memorials can be made in Ralph’s memory to the Texas A&M Letterman’s Association or the Texas Ranger Association Foundation. We love and miss you greatly, but we will one day see you in heaven!

Ralph Plumlee Jr.

January 9, 1939 - March 16, 2024