Ralph Wright Ketner was born in Salisbury, NC in 1920. He began his life in the food industry in 1950. In 1956, along with his brother, Brown Ketner, and Wilson L. Smith, Ralph Ketner founded Food Town Stores, Inc., which later became Food Lion, Inc.
Ralph Ketner retired in 1991 and began his affiliation with 4-H on the board of the North Carolina 4-H Development Fund. He was introduced to National 4-H Council when he was invited to speak to the delegates at Citizenship Washington Focus. The Ketners donated $1 million to build the Ralph W. Ketner Hall at the National 4-H Conference Center.
Donated $1 million to build the Ralph W. Ketner Hall at the National 4-H Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Served on the Board of Trustees of National 4-H Council 1988-89.
