Cars and Characters Part II: 'Fireball Fred'

Fred Ragland is very busy as chairman of the 2005 Fallbrook Vintage Car Club Show, planned for May 29 at the high school athletic field. But busy is a normal state for Fred, as he is always ready to help with any worthy cause.

Born in Hawaii to a Navy family, he chose the Marine Corps for service during the 1950s and feels close to the Corps. He volunteers at Camp Pendleton each summer to assist with the two Devil Pup encampments of about 600 teens, helping them through the junior recruit program.

A retired fireboat captain, Fred worked out of Wilmington with the LA Harbor Fire Protection District and commanded the 100-foot-long “Bethel Gifford,” named for a retired fireman. During his long career there he served as a counselor for troubled youth, and he remembers well the hectic days of the Los Angeles riots when boat personnel were on call to augment ground crews in the city.

Fred’s interest in cars started even before he joined the Vulcan Car Club in high school as a student in Wilmington, CA. Years later, after his retirement, the first car he restored was not a hot rod but a 1919 Model ‘T’ Ford Depot Hack that he bought from a fireman in San Francisco. He did a great job of total restoration and then built a trailer to match. Entered in a show, the rare duo drew a lot of attention. One buyer offered Fred too much money for him to resist the sale of his handiwork. And all these years later, “before and after” pictures of the hack are shown with pride and fond memories.

Fred met his wife Connie in November 1961 and they married a few months later. Decisive then, as now, they both knew they had met “The One.” Blessing the marriage are daughters Rebecca and Kristina.

After Fred’s retirement the family moved from Garden Grove to Temecula, commuting as they built their home in Fallbrook. Proficient as a carpenter between active-duty Marine service and becoming a fireman, Fred was able to be the owner-builder, and he and Connie incorporated a lot of labor-intense features in their interesting home design. These include display areas for collections of Dutch Porcelain, model cars, fire apparatus miniatures, hunting and fishing trophies, and many professional and civic awards. The Raglands moved into their home in 1990 and have enjoyed sharing it. Camp Pendleton Marines are invited to the Ragland holiday dinners for family and friends.

With the Fallbrook house completed, Fred wanted to start work on another car project. The 1939 Packard, born in 1938, like Fred, would keep him busy for a long time. Except for farming out the chrome plating, he did all the work himself, right down to the upholstery. The lustrous brown paint defines the quality of his work.

Fred and Connie drive the Packard to all the shows and other car activities. Watch for it in the show on the May 29.

Next time, more about Fred and the FVCC that he has guided so well for the past two years.