VL - Issue 8 - May 2013

By the Grace of God
by Kristi Overton Johnson
Mr. Ralph Meloon... a life against all odds!
Even though he’s 95 years old, you’ll still have a hard time keeping up with Mr.
Ralph Meloon. For over eight decades, he’s traveled the world representing his boat
company, Nautique, and most importantly, his Lord, Jesus Christ. By the grace of
God, he’ll continue to be on-the-go for God until the day he is called “home”.
His energy and longevity doesn’t surprise anyone, except Mr. Ralph. “I was a
sickly child, the runt of the family,” he says.
Mr. Ralph remembers back to his childhood days of being bedridden and being
taken to numerous doctors. “Back in the old days, they didn’t have all the medical
advances they do today, so it took a long time to figure out that I had a terrible
infection in my throat. This infection caused poison to drip constantly into my blood
stream, causing me to be sick to the point of death. Through my teenage years,
I underwent five surgeries on my throat.”
At the age of 12, Mr. Ralph gave his life to Christ, and with the Lord’s help, he overcame
these and many other obstacles. He laughs in amazement and humility as he recounts
the experiences of his life. “You have to understand,” he says. “I wasn’t expected
to live past my teens. But by the grace of God, I’ve outlived everyone in my family!”
Not only has Mr. Ralph survived, but he has thrived. “I’ve always been short,”
he says, “but even at 5 foot 7, I was able to play basketball in high school and be
on a team that won a state championships.”
It wasn’t long before Mr. Ralph joined his father, W.C. Meloon, in the boat
building business. “I’ve been a part of building boats to the glory of God since I can
remember. I still go to the office every day.”
Through the Nautique company, Mr. Ralph has traveled the world, visiting over
89 countries, even selling boats to kings and queens. It isn’t the life that was predicted
by his doctors, but it was, and is, the life ordained and orchestrated by his
God… a life against all odds!
“To think that God chose me, a sickly runt of a child to be used for His kingdom.
To think that He could use a boat business to touch thousands of lives for Christ
all over the world. To think that I would be alive
today at 95 years old, traveling the world, working
at the office, and still married to my beautiful
wife of 75 years! To think that God still
chooses to use me even now! It’s amazing and
all I can say is, ‘To God be the glory for the
things He has done!’”
If you have the time, Mr. Ralph will have
a story… my suggestion is that you take a
moment and listen. Perhaps he’ll share how
God miraculously opened doors for his company so
that he could ultimately spread the Good News of Jesus
Christ. Perhaps he’ll share how he smuggled Bibles and
sound equipment behind the Iron Curtain for large
evangelistic crusades. Perhaps he’ll tell you about building
boats for the government in World War II; or, about
witnessing the fall of the Berlin Wall and the celebrations
that followed. “Everyone kept telling me that it was
because of my presence there, the presence of God within
me, that had caused this miracle to happen!”
Or, perhaps he’ll tell you the story of leading someone to Christ. At 95, his mind
is sharp and he remembers every name of every person he has ever met and had
the privilege to lead to Christ. People from all over the world! It’s his greatest
memory and his greatest honor.
And maybe, just maybe, you’ll become one of his stories as he has the
opportunity to lead you to Christ, too. v
far left: Mr. Ralph
autographs the engine
cover of an original 1949
Correct Craft Dart owned by
Billy “Boat Doctor” Sutton of
Monterey, LA. Mr. Ralph
personally invited Billy to
bring this boat (which he
bought from the Correct
Craft museum 6+- yrs ago) to
the 50th Masters.
left: Mr. Ralph, doing what
he does best — working the
crowd, preaching the gospel,
and talking up Correct Craft
boats at the 51st Masters.
above: Ralph and his wife
of 75 years, Betty.
Masters photos courtesy of Timothy Morfoot
www.championsheart.org 13