A graduate of Sheffield High School in 1977, Ronny lettered in football, Baseball, basketball and track for the Bulldogs. As a senior on the football squad, he was named Most Valuable Back, Most Valuable Player and was selected a permanent Team Captain by his teammates. He was also named First Team All-TVC and to the Second Team All-state Team as a wide receiver. In addition to being an outstanding football player Ronny excelled on the baseball team as well. He was a member of the 1975 State Championship Team playing centerfield and batting over .500. Following his senior season, he was selected to play in the East- West All-Star and was named the MVP in the game advancing to play in the Shriner’s Game in Decatur where he was again the Most Valuable Player. He also was selected to play in the North-South Classic and was selected as the winner of the A.C. Curry Award as Sheffield High Schools Top Scholar Athlete in 1977. After high school he signed a baseball scholarship to play baseball for Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tennessee. In 1978 he was named to the conference All-Freshman Team and in 1979 he batted .322 as a sophomore and was named Best Defensive Player. Ronny is still an avid runner and power lifter as a senior adult setting State Records in the squat, bench and deadlift. In 2021 he set USPA National Records in all three of those lifts.