From the 1970s to the 1990s, Ron covered tennis for newspapers in Columbia, Mo.; Bloomington, Ind.; Memphis, Tenn., and St. Louis, writing well over 700 articles over a period of 25 years. His career included 31 years as a writer and editor at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, where he produced his tennis coverage almost entirely during his free time. At the University of Missouri, Ron earned a letter in tennis and a journalism degree. He won four St. Louis District titles in men's 35s and the No. 1 ranking in that division.