Rev. Ratliff, Pastor of the Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church located in Des
Moines, Iowa has been in the ministry thirty two (32) years and has pastored thirty of
those thirty two years.

Rev. Keith A. Ratliff, Sr., NAACP National Board Member, NAACP State Conference
President for Iowa/Nebraska, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement
of Colored People) the nation’s oldest and most respected civil rights organization.
Rev. Ratliff is a former President of the Des Moines NAACP a position he occupied
for seven years in the 1990’s while also President of the Des Moines Black Ministerial
Alliance during this same time. He is also the State Historian for the Iowa Missionary
and Educational Baptist State Convention and Affiliated Churches. In addition to
his religious duties he serves on numerous community boards and leads a quarterly
NAACP leadership meeting with Governor Vilsack addressing issues such as education,
healthcare, justice and economic empowerment as they impact Iowa’s African American
and minority communities. He earned his Bachelors degree from Simpson College in
History/Education and earned his Masters degree from Drake University in Religious
Leadership. He was a Senior Engineering Analyst at John Deere Des Moines Works for
Thirty three years.

Rev. Keith A. Ratliff, Sr. and wife Deborah have been married for 32 years and have five
children.

Rev. Ratliff has received numerous awards for his Community service and commitment:

- Des Moines Area Religious Council Interfaith Service Award
- Des Moines Human Rights Commission Award
- Black Ministerial Alliance Community Service Award
- Given Key to The City of Des Moines 1994
- Proclamation by City of Des Moines 1994 that April 17th is Rev. Keith Ratliff Day
- Local Amnesty International Leadership, Innovation, Contribution and Dedication to
   Human Rights Award
- Co-Chaired “The Iowa Crew” made up of people of different races and faiths that
   went to Tennessee to help rebuild two churches that were burned down.
- Mid-City Vision Community Service Award
- Simpson College Award
- Central District Baptist Association Pastor of the Year Award
- Fraternity Omega’s Citizen of The Year Award
- Pastored Maple Street Baptist Church Free Medical Clinic for fifteen years
- Has done much to help improve Race relations in various communities and in the
  Religious community.
- Has been invited throughout the State to speak on Race relations to Public and
  Private schools, to various communities and in many religious communities.
- Was Inducted into the “Iowa African American Hall of Fame December 2003”