Before serving as one of San Antonio’s longest-tenured mayors, Ron spent his childhood in Texas. His father Ken was born to immigrants from Eastern Europe and worked in microprocessor and software development. Ron’s mother, Charlotte, a Malaysian immigrant of Filipino and Indian heritage, became a proud citizen in 1976 and raised Ron, Marc, and Heather in their home in Austin. As a child, Ron was surrounded by cultural diversity that was rooted in family, hard work, and gratitude for the opportunities of America. He developed a core commitment to civic participation and equal opportunity for every person.

After high school, Ron attended Trinity University (where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree) and the University of Pennsylvania (earning a Master of Arts in communications). It was there that he met his future wife, Erika Prosper, who was attending the same school. They moved back to San Antonio and were married in 2001. She worked in advertising, and he directed policy and civic research projects in 22 cities across the country for the Annenberg Public Policy Center. In 2009, Ron returned to Trinity, serving as General Manager of KRTU-FM while teaching courses in the Department of Communication.