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By Chris Perkins, University of North Georgia Athletics Development Officer for Athletics
When a person meets Ron Mears for the first time, most seem to have a similar impression – it’s as if you have known him your entire life.
Steve Wilson, who broke into the business as a young assistant sports information director at Texas State University, shared what many others have echoed. Now Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Communications at Park University, Wilson credits Mears for his start and success in the business.
“Ron is truly an educator,” Wilson said. “I made enough mistakes working for him that I probably caused some lost hair on his head. He took me under his wing and I wouldn’t have lasted 11 hours away from home in my first real job without Ron Mears.”
Wilson shares what so many have seen in Mears’ 25-year career, including Cris Perkins, who came to Nichols State (Thibodeaux, Louisiana) as a student assistant in the fall of 1993, to start a new career some 10- hours away from home.
“Ron went about each day like it was the best day of his life,” Perkins said. “He may not have really been feeling that way, but to those who were starting in the business, he sure came across that way.”
In a career spanning 25 years, Mears worked at Nicholls State, Texas State (San Marcos, Texas), Rice (Houston, Texas) and the University of Memphis. Throughout that time, literally thousands of people came across his path.
Even though he finished his SID career with larger universities with athletic departments that had greater budgets and more personnel, Mears’ first position at Nicholls State was special. His student-workers referred to those years as the ‘
Golden Mears’!
Looking back on that time (1987-1998), the impact he made on young people getting their start, passing through, and/or making a connection like a traveler through Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Mears was a constant who helped more people than one could imagine. Whether it was media training for student-athletes, coaches who were getting their start or getting a second chance, or working on a shoe-string budget accomplishing the unimaginable, Mears was there to mentor, guide, assist, and burn the midnight oil to ensure the coaches and student-athletes were afforded the same opportunities and exposure the bigger schools received.
During his time at Nicholls State, Mears was the SID for the university’s only two NCAA March Madness appearances in 1995 against Virginia and 1998 against Arizona.
Nicholls’ legendary former basketball head coach Rickey Broussard remembers Mears fondly.
“I think that Ron would say that some of his most fun days were spent at Nicholls, and in particular with the basketball program,” Broussard said. “His basketball media guides were second to none, created on a very limited budget. Ron was a pro even in his early years and was never overwhelmed when we went to the NCAA’s.”
After going through an 0-11 football campaign in 1995 with first-year head coach Darren Barbier who came fresh from the high school ranks, the Colonels improved to an 8-4 record the next year, advancing to the NCAA I-AA Playoffs with Barbier earning the Eddie Robinson Award recognizing the top coach in I-AA.
Mears worked with former Major Leaguers Mike Mohler and Scott Sanders and was there for all three of the Colonels appearances in the NCAA Baseball Tournament.
“It was always a pleasure working with him,” Sanders said. “Ron always did his job with the student-athlete in mind. He always pushed the envelope and stayed ahead of the curve.”
Mears also worked with the Lady Colonels when they advanced to the NCAA Softball Tournament three times.
The Ron that many will always hold near and dear to their hearts is the Ron Mears who was seen entertaining the opposing team’s SID at Bubba’s II on the Bayou in Thibodaux, the night before or after the game when the work was done. Mears and his staff were always the gracious hosts, hoisting a beverage and usually ending the evening with his Elvis impression.
“I carry the traits that Ron taught all of us in my professional life and well as my personal life as a husband and parent,” Perkins added. “Give your best, work hard and most importantly – have fun!”
Mears is currently the senior communications specialist for FedEx Freight where he gets to impart his wisdom and personality on a new group of people in a different setting.
But, most importantly, his wife Ann and son Cooper, truly get to enjoy the “
Golden Mears.”