ODYSSEY Media Group adviser David Ragsdale speaks to the reception at the OMG 20th Anniversary Celebration in downtown Athens, Ga. on March 18. Despite an ever-changing demeanor, Ragsdale’s one-of-a-kind leadership has remained constant throughout his 20 years with the ODYSSEY despite a lack of personal journalistic experience. “I came in as very green, not knowing anything and had to learn the hard way on almost every single thing. I didn’t have a journalism degree (or) have years of journalism background in high school – this was started from the ground up,” Ragsdale said. Photo by Aza Khan
ODYSSEY Media Group adviser David Ragsdale is an idiosyncratic contradiction of a leader, but one who has nonetheless left a lasting impact on the ODYSSEY program.
David Ragsdale is a man of many contradictions.
The ODYSSEY Media Group adviser of over 20 years, Ragsdale founded, built and maintained one of the most successful scholastic media programs in the country through an uncompromising yet personal approach to leadership.
In Ragsdale’s 20 years as adviser, staffs under his tutelage have accomplished almost everything possible. Gold Crown? Check. Champion Journalists? Check. All-Georgia, All-Southern, All-Nation? Check, check, check.
“He is the kind of person who will sit with you for hours to walk you through whatever you need,” Editor-in-Chief Molly Harwell said. “Mr. Ragsdale has taught me what true leadership looks like.”
And though he would be the first to deflect attention away from himself, Ragsdale has built a lengthy personal resume. ODYSSEY staffers create a simple three-line bio for the ODYSSEY website – his accolades cover half the screen.
In class, Ragsdale embodies a strange synthesis of strict professionalism and cheeky humor to create a charismatic, idiosyncratic figure.
“My core values have remained the same: reciprocity, process, patience, ambition. I don’t think those things have changed.”
— David Ragsdale,
ODYSSEY Media Group founder and adviser
Four days in a week, Ragsdale will arrive dressed to the tens in suit, tie and scarf, but just when students peg him as a straight-backed disciplinarian, he’ll break out a worn ODYSSEY T-shirt, jeans and garishly colored Air Jordans on Friday.
Perhaps because of this and dozens of other tiny contradictions, perhaps despite them, Ragsdale commands a classroom as an unwavering leader – yet somehow, one who prioritizes student leadership and taking initiative over authoritarian direction.
“As far as my leadership, (I’m) always expecting the best and giving the best,” Ragsdale said. “My core values have remained the same: reciprocity, process, patience, ambition. I don’t think those things have changed.”
But what’s Ragsdale’s reason? He’s said it’s the ODYSSEY culture, the people, the community, all of which slot neatly into the average journalist’s kicker quote.
But, in his own meandering way, Ragsdale has taught this particular journalist to not accept anything but the honest answer to any question – especially this one.
“That ability to constantly tweak, get better, evaluate – that’s fun to me,” Ragsdale said. “I don’t like ceilings. I like to break through those. I like to continue to evolve.”
