His strong bond with Kilgore and its residents fuels his ongoing commitment to serve. He deeply values each individual and is continually inspired by the community’s drive to
improve.

Story by Joycelyne Fadojutimi

Photo courtesy by the City of Kilgore

“I saw my family start out from a meager beginning,” he says. “I was brought home from the hospital to a three-room apartment over the lumber yard. I saw my family work hard, scrimp and save to provide a better life for their boys.”

City of Kilgore Mayor, Ronald Spradlin

Ronald Spradlin works hard as mayor of Kilgore, and for him, it is nothing new. His story is a clinic on how to earn fruits from labor and doing it very well. He matured under the influence of very industrious parents, and now he makes working hard his main concern.

He grew up watching his father serve on church committees, for schools, and various non-profits, including the Kilgore Independent School District’s board of directors, and thirty years as a Kilgore College Trustee. After serving as a Kilgore College Rangerette, his mother taught her four boys the value of staying busy by being a room mom and taking them to various and assorted activities. Civic involvement was always a major aspect of their lives.

“I saw my family start out from a meager beginning,” he says. “I was brought home from the hospital to a three-room apartment over the lumber yard. I saw my family work hard, scrimp and save to provide a better life for their boys.”

He had a grandmother who faithfully oversaw her brood’s weekly church attendance, and equally faithfully spreading out before them a sumptuous Sunday dinner. The Sabbath was time for family interaction and love, but weekdays were devoted to the family business–East Texas Lumber.

“I started working Saturdays and summers at age twelve, weighing nails and sweeping floors,” he says. “I learned to drive a forklift before I drove an automobile. It was the only place I ever worked my entire life.”

Although his mother was a Longview native, it was only natural that Ronald matriculated strictly through the Kilgore school system, graduating from Kilgore College and serving as a Rangerette manager. He even accompanied the Rangerettes on a sixteen-day tour through Hong Kong, Macao, and Korea. Still, it was the family business that was his true calling.

He finished his college education by pulling down a finance degree from the University of Texas at Tyler while still working at the lumber yard after school, on weekends, and holidays. There was never any doubt about his career.

“After graduating in 1979, I came to work full-time,” he says. “My dad retired in 1983, and I bought the business from the family in 1983. I ran East Texas Lumber until I retired and sold it in 2022.”

It is important to note, his long tenure as a buyer and seller of wood has not stopped him from working hard and long in the service of his beloved city, Kilgore, Texas. Being a public servant has seen him participate and serve several civic organizations, including the Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation ,which he helped to create, serving as its president four times, president of the Kilgore Chamber of Commerce, Kilgore Boys and Girls Club, and on numerous church committees. It was all a build-up and preparation for his move into the position of mayor.

“After four years on the [city] council, I ran for mayor for the first time,” he says. “I am serving my fifteenth year as mayor, having run nine times. Next May, I will complete my 20th year on the Kilgore City Council.”

It is a long-running community joke that Kilgore does not have an office for its mayor, but this has not stopped Spradlin from serving his community with skill and effectiveness, no matter where he interacts with the residents.

“I usually meet and talk with my constituents in either one of two places,” he says. “It is
usually the milk aisle at Brookshires or the milk aisle at Wal-Mart.”

Furthermore, he spends most of his time interacting with locals, updating them with what is happening in their city and what they can expect next from their local government. According to Spradlin, his voters have many varied perspectives and interests in civic matters. Hence, he briefs them on local parks and trails; police, fire, and EMT services, youth facilities, and right on down to when potholes will be filled in.

“I try to be at any event happening in Kilgore where my attendance is expected or appreciated,” he says. “I feel like my presence makes organizations and people feel like the city cares about them.”

The effects of his public work extend even into Sunday worship as he tries to attend at least ten churches yearly to further extend his influence on the well-being of as many people as possible. He has issued more than 300 proclamations to keep his electorate well-informed on various community milestones and accomplishments.

Importantly, he has volunteered at Project Graduation for thirty-five years and Junior Achievement fifteen times. His life of community service speaks for itself. For many years he has sat on the board of Kilgore National, spent four years as president of the Community Development Board, and the past few years on the Gregg County Appraisal Review board.

But wait. That is not all.

In 1990. Spradlin was named Citizen of the Year, and in 2007, he was recognized as a UT-Tyler Distinguished Alumnus. He performs in-person walking history tours downtown, enthusiastically providing an oral chronicle of the city.

“I am known for dressing up for events and festivals,” he says. “I have worn a top hat in the Christmas parade fourteen years in a row.”

Serving his citizenry as mayor is his passion. He loves speaking to Boy Scout troops, to Lion’s and Rotary clubs, senior citizens, and tourists, sharing news on where Kilgore has been, is now, and where it is going. His deep attachment to Kilgore and its people is a driving force, motivating him to ongoing and determined efforts on their behalf. He never loses sight of how important everybody is, and the way Kilgore’s people are so incredibly positive about making it an even better place via constant improvements in general is a great blessing to his own efforts in this direction. Since he, the mayor, and
the city council receive no salary for their services, there can be no doubt as to the sincerity of their intentions. It can be a savory mission.

“I love to try the specialty in each family restaurant in Kilgore,” he says. Most downtown restaurants know what I’m getting as soon as I enter–although I do switch up my ice cream flavors now and then.”

Spradlin even (and somehow) finds time to pursue his love of the outdoors. He eagerly jets down frigid snow slopes; he kayaks and expertly white-water rafts. In addition, he savors gardening by taking care of the planters at City Hall and a couple of other businesses. He even keeps honeybees and is addicted to whole milk.

“You can see me most days with my half-gallon of Horizon milk in hand,” he says. “Most council meetings, I drink the entire half-gallon.”

Spradlin loves his city and everything it has to offer, people and all.