A life-long athlete, Ron was born July 21, 1934, to O. D. and Myrtle Gober Adams in San Angelo, Texas, the oldest of four children. He spent his younger years in Early, Texas, before his family moved to Brownwood.
A good student, Ron also excelled in sports from an early age, regularly earning accolades as a stand-out tackle and playing both offense and defense for the "Mighty Fightin' Brownwood Lions' football team. His success on the gridiron led to a scholarship to play for the San Angelo College Rams, where Ron had the honor of playing for the legendary Coach Max Bumgardner, along with Grant Teaff, Ben Kelly and Spike Dykes, among others. During his years at SAC, Ron played in the Junior College National Championship Bowl and earned honors as a Junior College All-American.
He completed his teaching degree and a bachelor of science in mathematics at Howard Payne College in Brownwood before beginning his career as a football and track coach. He spent 35 years as an educator and coach with assignments at LeFores, Panhandle, Canyon, Temple, Beeville, Bishop and Spring. He retired in 1991 as an administrator for the Spring ISD, culminating what he saw as his lifelong calling to serve as a role model, mentor and friend to young people around the state.
Ron was a marathoner, ultra-marathoner and competed in the National Senior Games in Syracuse, Tucson, Houston and Baton Rouge, LA, where he garnered national standings in age-group triathlon, cycling, discus and shot put, and traveled the country, training triathlon officials to expand triathloning opportunities in every state.
In 1991, he met and married journalist Alice Ann Berthelsen of Houston, the woman who became his best friend, confidante, partner in adventure and the love of his life.
The couple moved to Austin in 1998, where they enjoyed UT football, local politics, music, theatre and film, international travel and spending time with their beloved grandchildren.
Ron was an enthusiastic member of Austin's infamous Yeller Dawg Democrats weekly discussion group and actively supported a number of political candidates. Had he lived to election day 2016, he would have enthusiastically cast his vote for Hillary.
He was a member of the NAACP, NOW, Texas High School Coaches Association, Texas Teachers organizations and Triathlon USA. He and Alice were members of Texas Exes, the Texas Historical Society, TFN, PFLAG, NARAL and the Travis County Democratic Party.
Using the 'can do' attitude, discipline and the 'never quit' ethic he learned in sports, Ron battled Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia for 17 years. However, in spite of the indignities of older age, this true gentleman's spirit and goodness never flagged and his enthusiasm for life never waned.
Ron is survived by his loving wife and partner of 24 years, sons Kevin, Jeff and Erik and daughter Kristin. He also is survived by his grandchildren Emma, Walter, Jackson and Mary Berthelsen of Dripping Springs and Erik and Erika of Dallas. Also his brothers Shelby (Pat) Adams of Ft. Worth, Fred (Debbie) Adams of New Braunfels, his sister Sharon (Gray) Derbonne of Keatchie, Louisiana and his beloved Aunt Inez Lack of Brownwood as well as numerous cousins, nephews and a niece and many loving and like-minded friends.
His family wishes to thank Dr. Carsten Kampe, Ron's unbelievably talented oncologist and friend for 17 years at Texas Oncology South. We also are eternally grateful to Rick and the incredible team of nurses and patient care techs of St. David's South Austin Medical Center's 3 Central who surrounded Ron and Alice with compassionate caring, tremendous expertise and love, the St. David's staff -- especially Versy and Vickie of Housekeeping -- who made it possible for Alice to accompany Ron every step of the way on his final journey, the Hospice Austin team and Joel of Our Home Care for providing gentleness and caring for this amazing man.
A celebration of Ron's life and a tribute to his legacy will be held at a later date.
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