Ralph graduated from high school at Georgia Military in Milledgeville and then received a B.S. in Agriculture from the University of Florida.  For eighteen years he worked for the Agricultural Chemical Division of Shell Chemical Company. In 1983, he founded Quality Propane, Inc. which he sold in 1987.  Currently, he is President of Hudgens Enterprises, Inc., an investment company with holdings in real estate and also Diamond Outdoor, Inc. an outdoor advertising company.

Ralph, a former political appointee in the first Bush administration, was the State Representative for the 24th District from 1996-2002.  In 2002, he was elected as the State Senator for the 47th District, where he serves as the Chairman of the Insurance and Labor Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Banking and Financial Institution, and also serves on the Natural Resources and Environment and the Reapportionment and Redistricting Committees.

Ralph married the former Suzanne Morgan in 1963 and they have four children and ten grandchildren.  Ralph and Suzanne are active members at Winterville First Baptist Church.