I knew Ronald mostly because he lived on my paper route on Hamilton Street in Junior High. I would often stop and play before completing my route. He was a fun guy and seemed to be happy all the time. I'll also not forget the time he shot me in the rear with his BB gun when I rode by. (We both thought that was really funny!)
Ronnie was a good friend. He, Brian Walls and I would go to the bowling alley on the weekends and bowl. The three of us would go to his parents barbeque restaurant (Zebbys) and eat lunch at noon everyday during school. They would let us have a chopped beef sandwich with chips and coke and a desert for .50 cents. He drove a little Chevy Nova I think. He was a good guy.
The last time I saw Ron was at the Golden Corral Restaurant in Amarillo Our families had dined only two tables apart, but my positioning had not let me notice him until we were leaving.
"Ronnie Gray", I said as I stuck out my hand to shake his. Ron shook my hand as he turned to his wife and said, "See! I told you he would still call me Ronnie!"
Ron and his family went to Hobart Street (then) Baptist Church as did my family and I for all of our childhood years. So we shared childhood memories other that just school.
He always was and always will be my little friend.
