I got to know Ron when we took welding class together at Shinnston High.  He became a very good friend.  We had lots of laughs together.  And, we shared a motorcycle wreck that he never let me forget.  We were going to the 1967 Homecoming bonfire at the football field on his old suicide shift Indian motorcycle.  Just as we got in front of the old Shinn log cabin the traffic in front of us stopped for a car to turn left.  That is when Ron found out he didn't have any brakes on the motorcyle!  Rather than hit the car immediately in front of us he veered left and that looked like a good move.  Right up to the instant the car at the front of the line made his left hand turn and we hit him.  The bike fell over, Ron jumped clear.....I was standing stradle of the bike becuase the seat had my foot caught and I couldn't move.  And then a small fire started in the carberator of the cycle which was right underneath me.  Luckily the Shinnston Volunteer Fire Department was right behind us and they quickly put out the fire and lifted the cycle so I could step free.  I haven't ridden a motorcyle since that night.  And Ron never, ever let me forget that ride.  Just a few years ago when I saw him and Debbie at an SHS reunion he offered to take me for another motorcyle ride.  I declined.

He was an old friend that I never saw very often but on those rare ocassions when we did meet up it was just like we hadn't been apart.  I hate to hear this news and I will miss him.  My condolences to Debbie and the rest of his family who I never had the pleasure of meeting.