*Although his umpiring days might be over, Ron continues to focus on the future.*

*On June 5, Ron and Bonnie will celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary.*

*Ron was taken by ambulance to CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System where he was treated for a brain injury.*

Ron Ferguson does not remember September 21, 2020. He does not remember the truck that hit him as he directed traffic for Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas. He does not remember spending a week under sedation. He does not remember how close he came to death. What matters is that he remembers everything that came after.

For most of his adult life, Ron worked for McLarty Ford. When he reached retirement age, he thought maybe he was getting too old to keep up with the grind. But too much free time made him stir-crazy, and he needed something to do. Five years ago, he joined the staff of the Texarkana Independent School District. He happily worked as a crossing guard, directing traffic, and keeping kids safe. Retirement treated him well. He was a baseball umpire and coached his grandson’s baseball team. Life was good for Ron Ferguson and his family, but a rainy day in September nearly took it all away.

Ron recalls that it had been a good morning. He was working on Summerhill Road and stopped ongoing traffic so the school traffic and students could enter the property. The 76-year-old driver of a Ford pickup moved into the turning lane, never seeing Ron standing there.

“I’ve only ever driven Fords my entire life. Then to be hit by one. Well, at least it wasn’t a Chevy or a Dodge,” Ron joked. “My son is a state trooper. From the accident photos, they thought I broke my leg.”

Despite being knocked several yards, he suffered no broken bones. His head hit the concrete on impact, and he suffered a brain injury. He was taken by ambulance to CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System, where rehabilitation included physical, occupational, and speech therapies.

“The walking was the hardest. I would take a few steps and need to sit down. I was just worn out,” he explained. Rehab was strenuous, but it never occurred to Ron to give up. “I always knew the good Lord was with me.”

Ron is completely aware that his story could have ended differently. He recalls a moment with his wife, Bonnie, a few months back. They were watching a movie one evening, and he noticed her crying. She explained that while he was sedated, the doctors warned her that his condition was critical. She needed to be prepared that her husband might not leave the hospital alive. Ron adds, “I didn’t realize I had quit breathing when the truck hit me. That’s when she told me. They had to revive me.”

*Ron and his oldest son, Michael, during Michael’s State Trooper graduation in 2008.*

Many things could have gone wrong, but Ron chooses to focus on the triumph rather than the challenge. “This June 5 will be our 45th wedding anniversary.” He admits that his wife was a major motivator in his healing. “She stood beside me. She pushed my wheelchair. She was at the hospital every day. I owe her big time.” He already took her to pick out a new wedding band for an early anniversary present, but he plans to take her on vacation this summer when he feels better. “She has always wanted to visit Branson.” Ron’s voice fills with pride as he describes his family. He has three sons, seven grandsons, one granddaughter, and a great-grandchild.

Life is a series of valleys and mountains. Your friends are the ones who make the journey with you. They pull you out of the valley and push you up the mountain. This is more than true in Ron’s case. The community has rallied around them, sending cards and letters.

“I thank Texas High for taking care of us,” he says. The staff has checked on them regularly, dropping off food to them at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Folks volunteered to clean their house and help with other chores. Former coworkers have taken up collections for him. “Don’t ever say God’s not good,” Ron said.

Ron was most worried about the kids who witnessed the accident, but the high school’s faculty and staff made counseling available for those traumatized by the event. And when he felt stronger, his family attended a football game. When the announcer told the fans that they had a special guest, Ron looked around to see who it was. When his name was announced, he stood to acknowledge the applause and cheers. Though he was surprised and slightly embarrassed by the attention, it was a great moment.

One could argue that Ron’s friends’ generosity is a testament to his own character. That character is fortified by his faith. In a recent church service, Ron’s pastor told the congregation about their prayer board. Church members can post pictures and requests to the board to be prayed over. For the last several months, Ron’s picture has been right in the center of that board. The pastor invited him to stand and told the audience Ron’s story, adding that his presence that morning was a testimony to the power of prayer. “God works miracles. You just have to believe,” Ron explains.

After the accident, one of Ron’s coworkers from the school told him that God had protected him. He replied, “Both of them did.” When she asked what he meant, Ron recalls an experience he had. “I don’t know if I was dreaming. Jesus was on my right-hand side, and my dad who I had lost was on my left side. They both told me it wasn’t my time. I still had a job to do.”

Ron will return to his staff position at the high school when the fall semester begins in August. “I didn’t want to sound like a chicken, but I asked if they could keep me out of the street,” he chuckles. The staff has already made arrangements for him to be moved inside the building where he can be a hall monitor for the campus.

Sadly, Ron will not return to the baseball field. His doctor told him he did not want him behind the plate. There was just too great a risk of irreversible damage if he were to get hit by a bat or foul ball. Although he is disappointed to leave the diamond behind, Ron tries to focus on the future. His long-term prognosis is good. There is a vessel in his head that is shrinking. It can be sensitive to touch, and he still has headaches, but his neurosurgeon does not think he will need surgery. He still walks with a cane, but his therapy is complete, and he improves daily. “I feel good. I’m just happy every day I wake.”

Ron will be 69 years old this year. Most of the men in his family died young, so he knows how blessed he is. “If I had died, I was ready. I would have been happy.” But he does not take his life for granted. “I don’t have any regrets. I tell everyone at the church to live each day, because you don’t know what tomorrow brings.”

The events of September 21, 2020, could have ended in tragedy, but with the help of family, friends, and faith, Ron’s story is one of victory.

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