Frank Ragsdale & Mayor Harold Rideau Join Central’s Joan Lansing on Lane Board of Commissioners

Submitted by Delores Sutton

Frank Ragsdale and Mayor Harold Rideau were recently appointed by the Metropolitan Council of East Baton Rouge Parish to a four-year term on the Board of Commissioners at Lane Regional Medical Center.  Ragsdale is replacing Robert Williams who rolled off the board after 22 years of service, and Rideau is replacing James “Goose” Carroll who rolled off the board after 8 years of service.

Ragsdale, former director of Anesthesia, retired from Lane Regional Medical Center in 2009 after 17 years of service.  A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist for 34 years, he also served on the Board of Directors and as President of the Louisiana Association of Nurse Anesthetist, and as a lobbyist on both the State and Federal level for the American Cancer Society and rural health care issues.  A resident of Zachary, Ragsdale and his wife Janice are the parents of two daughters, Heather and Tara.  He is actively involved in the Zachary/Baker Relay for Life and has served on the steering committee for several years. He attends Zachary Church of Christ. 

Rideau has served as Mayor of Baker since July 1, 2004.  He retired from Exxon Chemical in 2004 after more than 36 years of service. Rideau also served as an Assistant Professor at Southern University College of Engineering.  A resident of Baker, Rideau and his wife Juanita are the parents of one daughter and three sons, Alecia, Alphonse, Kyle and Jacob.  He is currently a member of the Rotary Club of Baker, The Baker Chamber of Commerce, ExxonMobil Golden Roots Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4224, American Legion Post 502 and the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

Lane Regional Medical Center is governed by a nine member board of commissioners who are appointed by the Metropolitan Council of East Baton Rouge Parish.  Current members are Dell Guerra (Board Chair), Dr. Keith Elbourne, Pat Gauthier, Jimmy Johnson, Joan Lansing, Judy Myles, Mark Thompson, Ragsdale and Rideau.