The Innocent Man

Ron Williamson grew up a happy, athletic, God-fearing boy in small-town Oklahoma. The youngest of three children, Ron was doted on by both his parents and his two older sisters, who generally gave in to his sometimes-selfish demands—for example, paying off Ron's motorcycle loan after he gave all his money away to a traveling evangelist at a revival. As he got older, Ron began to display wild mood swings, but his family forgave him for his angry outbursts when he returned to his friendly and gregarious self. By his senior year of high school, he had developed a habit of getting drunk and chasing women—sometimes harassing them in ways that made them feel unsafe—that would stay with him throughout his life.

Ron's talent in baseball caught the notice of many coaches, and throughout his school years, he was a regional star, with many speculating that he could be the next Mickey Mantle. Though he was scouted by the pros and spent a few years in the minor leagues, his early promise did not develop into a lasting career in baseball, and by the time he was in his early 20s, injuries had made him unable to play.