Ron Lemasters Sr.

openwheelfan1 · 3/10/15, 9:39 AM

I saw in my NSSN feed that Ron Lemasters Sr. passed away yesterday. Ron wrote a lot of PR copy and releases for Winchester Speedway and was a fixture during May at IMS, as well as a regular contributor to NSSN. RIP Mr. Lemasters

Wendy Atkin · 3/10/15, 7:47 PM

Obituary for Ronald Lemasters

Ronald R. Lemasters, former sports editor of The Muncie Star, passed away March 9 at Ball Memorial Hospital after a sudden illness. He was 76.

Born in Muncie on Nov. 2, 1938 to Frederick Raleigh Lemasters and Anna Leone (Symons) Lemasters, he graduated from Ben Davis High School in 1956 and attended Franklin (Ind.) College and Ball State University. He is an alumnus of Ball State University.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Joyce Lemasters; sons Ron Lemasters Jr. (Chris) of Concord, N.C.; Michael Lemasters (Christy) of Boulder City, Nev.; granddaughters Jordan and Devon, Concord, N.C.; Adrianna, Andrew and Austin of Boulder City, Nev.; brother Frank Lemasters, Brunswick, Ga.; sister-in-law Betty Abram, Acton, Ind.; and aunt Ruth Schmuck, Fenton, Mich.; and several nieces and nephews.

Lemasters joined the staff of The Muncie Star in 1961 as a sportswriter, covering local sports, Indy Car racing and Ball State sports for the paper. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, including two tours of the Western Pacific.

He was named sports editor of Muncie’s morning newspaper in 1982, and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1999. Lemasters was an avid motorsports fan, and he wrote about racing of all forms. He covered the Indianapolis 500 for more than 30 years, the Brickyard 400 since its inception in 1994 and major events all over the country. He was a member of the Indianapolis 500 Old Timers, and served with the IMS News Bureau from 2000 through 2014.

Lemasters was inducted into the Delaware County Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989, and was twice voted Sportswriter of the Year by the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. He was also named to that organization’s Hall of Fame in 2001. He was inducted into the Mid-American Conference Media Hall of Fame for his coverage of Ball State athletics.

He was especially proud of his service in the Navy, and was treasurer of Tin Can Sailors, a group of sailors who served on destroyers.

He and Joyce were both members of the North Delaware Baptist Church in Muncie.

Funeral Services for Ronald will be held Thursday, March 12th, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Garden View Funeral Home, with Pastor James Marlow officiating. Burial with Military Honors being conducted by the United States Navy and the Delaware County Honor Guard, will follow in Gardens of Memory Cemetery. Family and friends may call from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Salvation Army with envelopes provided at the funeral home.

racefan20 · 3/10/15, 8:52 PM

Ron was the sports editor in my hometown of Muncie for many years. I loved hanging around the garage area at IMS shooting the $hit with him about racing, HS basketball and Muncie in general. RIP Ron you were a real good man.

Danny Burton · 3/11/15, 11:33 AM

Thanks for sharing that, Wendy. That was one full and productive life--in more ways than one.

3/10/15, 8:52 PM	#3 Re: Ron Lemasters Sr.
racefan20 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,072	Ron was the sports editor in my hometown of Muncie for many years. I loved hanging around the garage area at IMS shooting the $hit with him about racing, HS basketball and Muncie in general. RIP Ron you were a real good man. __________________ John Hoover “To whom little is not enough, nothing is enough.” Epicurus

3/11/15, 11:33 AM	#4 Re: Ron Lemasters Sr.
Danny Burton Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,302	Thanks for sharing that, Wendy. That was one full and productive life--in more ways than one. __________________ http://www.hoseheads.com/dannyb.html Quiet, numbskulls. I'm broadcasting.

3/10/15, 7:47 PM	#2 Re: Ron Lemasters Sr.
Wendy Atkin Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 115	Obituary for Ronald Lemasters Ronald R. Lemasters, former sports editor of The Muncie Star, passed away March 9 at Ball Memorial Hospital after a sudden illness. He was 76. Born in Muncie on Nov. 2, 1938 to Frederick Raleigh Lemasters and Anna Leone (Symons) Lemasters, he graduated from Ben Davis High School in 1956 and attended Franklin (Ind.) College and Ball State University. He is an alumnus of Ball State University. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Joyce Lemasters; sons Ron Lemasters Jr. (Chris) of Concord, N.C.; Michael Lemasters (Christy) of Boulder City, Nev.; granddaughters Jordan and Devon, Concord, N.C.; Adrianna, Andrew and Austin of Boulder City, Nev.; brother Frank Lemasters, Brunswick, Ga.; sister-in-law Betty Abram, Acton, Ind.; and aunt Ruth Schmuck, Fenton, Mich.; and several nieces and nephews. Lemasters joined the staff of The Muncie Star in 1961 as a sportswriter, covering local sports, Indy Car racing and Ball State sports for the paper. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, including two tours of the Western Pacific. He was named sports editor of Muncie’s morning newspaper in 1982, and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1999. Lemasters was an avid motorsports fan, and he wrote about racing of all forms. He covered the Indianapolis 500 for more than 30 years, the Brickyard 400 since its inception in 1994 and major events all over the country. He was a member of the Indianapolis 500 Old Timers, and served with the IMS News Bureau from 2000 through 2014. Lemasters was inducted into the Delaware County Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989, and was twice voted Sportswriter of the Year by the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. He was also named to that organization’s Hall of Fame in 2001. He was inducted into the Mid-American Conference Media Hall of Fame for his coverage of Ball State athletics. He was especially proud of his service in the Navy, and was treasurer of Tin Can Sailors, a group of sailors who served on destroyers. He and Joyce were both members of the North Delaware Baptist Church in Muncie. Funeral Services for Ronald will be held Thursday, March 12th, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Garden View Funeral Home, with Pastor James Marlow officiating. Burial with Military Honors being conducted by the United States Navy and the Delaware County Honor Guard, will follow in Gardens of Memory Cemetery. Family and friends may call from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Salvation Army with envelopes provided at the funeral home.