At Frank Ragnow's charity event, participants proud Lions 'icon' left on his own terms

Frank Ragnow pulled up to the Bald Mountain Shooting Range in Orion Township about 25 minutes before registration officially opened Thursday, June 5. Two dozen or so workers, volunteers and early arrivers milled about, straightening linens on tables, roasting a 100-pound pig and waiting for Ragnow’s third annual Skeet Shoot Showdown to begin.

Ragnow saw a reporter at a picnic table, said he wasn’t doing interviews and doesn’t know yet if he’ll have a retirement news conference — his decision announced Monday, June 2 to walk away from the NFL after seven standout seasons as the Detroit Lions’ center still too raw to discuss.

Ragnow greeted participants Thursday as he made his way around the pavilion over the next hour, then addressed the crowd just after 1:30 p.m.

“Obviously it’s been a very hectic week and I’m going to try not to get emotional but I really appreciate you all being here,” Ragnow said.

He called the decision to retire “a very, very hard decision to make” and joked that he might need to seek therapy about it. He kept the focus otherwise on the signature event his Rags Remembered Foundation uses to raise money to support children who’ve lost loved ones.

“I would really love today to be a positive, exciting day about the foundation,” he said.

Ragnow started his foundation in honor of his father, Jon, who died of a heart attack when he was in college at Arkansas, and Ragnow's willingness to help kids in need is one of the many things that’s endeared him to Lions fans.

“This whole foundation is, it was a cool why for me,” said Laura Peabody, a board member at Rags Remembered who took part in this year’s skeet shooting event. “I lost a dear friend and her boys are in my kid’s class, and right when I was asked to be on the board was when she died, and I think it’s so special that he’s giving back on top of doing all these things, cause they don’t have to do that.

“All the kids he touches, we went to (the event Ragnow hosted) at Christmas and it was just so touching and moving and these kids look forward to it. He’s just an angel for these families is what it comes down to.”

Several participants in the skeet shoot showdown wore Lions hats, and one young fan donned an Amon-Ra St. Brown jersey as Ragnow talked.

In the parking lot before the event, some said they were disappointed to see Ragnow’s retirement announcement earlier this week, but are sympathetic to the toll football took on his body and appreciative of what he meant to the city and the team.

Ragnow has battled foot problems since 2021, when he tore the plantar plate in his left foot in a Week 4 game against the Chicago Bears and missed the rest of the season. He played though more foot pain in 2022 and called the injury inoperable during an appearance at his skeet shooting event in the spring of 2023. Last year, he played through a partially torn pectoral muscle and was upbeat after the season, saying he felt “comparatively healthier than I’ve ever been.”

He also played through knee, ankle and throat injuries at various times in his career.

“He’s just a powerhouse,” said Mike Phelps, a Lions fan from Troy who participated in the event. “He’s done a lot for the Lions and been just strong. I think I was reading the other day I think he’s only had six sacks. It’s crazy. Hate to see him leave, but obviously he’s beat up and he played through it all so understand. He’s just a good icon for the city. The willingness to just keep playing.”

Lions coach Dan Campbell got emotional as he talked about Ragnow at his news conference Thursday morning in Allen Park before the Lions’ final practice of organized team activities, calling him “unbelievable” as a “teammate, football player, man of the community.”

Ragnow indicated in his address to participants he plans to remain a man of the community, even if his days playing football are done.

He talked of wanting to grow the event and impact more and more families, and when his three-minute or so address was done, participants gave him a loud cheer.

“I’m glad he’s getting out while he’s good,” said Rod Wojtalewicz of Otisville. “He sounds like a great guy. I’m hoping to get to meet him today. I assuming he’ll be making his rounds so it’ll be good to meet him and wish him luck.”