On April 25, 1959, in Jasper, AR, he was united in marriage to Joan Elain Spencer. They celebrated their 65th Wedding Anniversary this year.
Ron started gunsmithing at a very young age, over 40 years ago. He worked for a gun shop in Kansas City in 1957 doing all types of repair and customizing on rifles, shotguns, and pistols. He Started Power Custom in 1959. During this same time he worked for Armco Steel full-time. He retired from Armco Steel in 1988 with 30 years. Ron has attended several gunsmith seminars given by all the major US manufacturers. He served in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the Marksmanship Unit as a pistol team member and national Match Weapons Armorer. For Several years he taught gunsmithing seminars at all of NRA Gunsmithing Schools in the USA including Trinidad State Junior College, Montgomery Community College, Ruger Police Armorer School, and as a Police Firearms Instructor. He was President of the Missouri State Rifle and Pistol Association for 5 years. Ron has been a serious pistol competitor and is an avid big and small game hunter and fisherman.
Ron was one of the first to build heavy barreled PPC revolvers and refine their accuracy. He specialized in alterations to stainless steel revolvers made by Smith and Wesson and Ruger. Ron has designed and patented many tools and accessories for the firearms industry. He holds the record for the most gunsmithing magazine articles nationally than any other gunsmith in history. He also enjoyed working around the farm and spending time with family and friends.
He was a member of First Christian Church in Versailles. He also was a Charter Member of the American Pistolsmiths Guild and the received the 1986 Pistolsmith of the Year Award and was inducted in the Handgun Hunters Hall of Fame. In 1991 he received the N.R.A Professional Public Service Award. He also received these awards from the Outstanding American Handgunner:
1992 Top-10 Outstanding American Handgunner Award
1996 Top-6 Outstanding American Handgunner Award
1998 Top-4 Outstanding American Handgunner Award
1999 Top-3 Outstanding American Handgunner Award
He was presented with the lifetime achievement award from the American Pistolsmiths Guild in 2021.
He was a life member of the Missouri Sport Shooting Association, Kansas Rifle & Pistol Association, Handgun Hunter International, American Trap Association, Safari Club, American Hangunners Club 100, Police Marksman Association, & Varmint Hunters Association.” – source