William Richard Ratchford (May 24, 1934 – January 2, 2011) was an American politician from Connecticut.

[1] After his defeat, he served as chairman of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Committee on Nursing Homes from 1975 to 1976, and as Commissioner on Aging from 1977 to 1978.

In 1984, he was defeated by future Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland as Ronald Reagan’s landslide re-election boosted Republicans.

[3] After leaving Congress, he taught at his alma mater, Georgetown University, and worked as a lobbyist.

[3] This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress