Ronald Emon Barnes

Dr. Ronald E. Barnes died on April 1st, 2025 at home in Prescott. AZ. He was 93 years old. He was born on July 10, 1931 in Kansas City, Mo. to Roy and Marjorie Barnes.

In his high school and college years, his primary identity was as a tennis player. He was a member of the National Junior Davis Cup team, an intercollegiate All-American, and was ranked 5th in the country in the 1951 Public Parks rankings.

He attended The College of William and Mary in Virginia where he met and courted fellow student, Betsy Skinker. "Winning her love was the best thing I ever did," Ron often told friends. After graduating in 1952, he served in the U.S. Army, spending 16 months in Korea. Upon returning, he married Betsy in Roanoke, Va., on July 16, 1954.

Ron entered the University of Colorado (CU) in the Fall of 1954, receiving his masters ('55) and doctorate ('58) degrees with the help of Betsy who worked at the University to support him. During their time at CU he held a different administrative position each year, the final one as Director of the Counseling Service. During these years, Betsy gave birth to Lisa (1957) and Tim (1959).

In 1961, Ron became Associate Dean of Students at Iowa State University where they remained until 1966. During these years he became associated with The United Campus Christian Fellowship (UCCF), an organization on hundreds of university and college campuses which was active in the civil rights movement. He served on the UCCF Steering Committee before being elected President in 1963. His national contacts with presidents of traditional Black Colleges led to the National Council of Churches (NCC) asking him to serve as Chairman of the Commission on “Higher Education of the Negro”. In the summer of 1964, Ron and his family went to Tuskegee Institute in Alabama where he taught two graduate courses. His report to the Commission was a factor in the NCC scheduling a major conference in Chicago in January of 1965. This conference brought together for the first time presidents of Black colleges and presidents of northern universities to discuss ways of cooperating for the benefit of both entities.

In 1966, Ron became Vice President of Student Services at the University of North Dakota. While there he also was a developer and first Director of the New School of Behavioral Studies at the University. In 1968 he became an administrator at Prescott College (PC). In 1971, he left PC and higher education to develop a learning system for the Minnesota Experimental City. This exciting venture aimed to develop a city of the future using advanced technology and creative approaches to living and learning. Unfortunately, this project was discontinued in 1973 by the MN State Legislature because of budget constraints.

Ron then accepted a position as Director of Seminars in The Center for Applied Behavioral Sciences at The Menninger Foundation. This work lead Ron to present seminars and to support leadership development in corporations and communities.

In 1975, he left Menninger to start the first of several human service companies. Betsy and Ron returned to AZ, living in Tempe until 1987 when Ron sold his companies. Moving back to Prescott, both Ron and Betsy became active in the community during their retirement years. Ron worked with a team of community leaders to develop Prescott Area Leadership and service on several community boards and projects. In 1989 he began writing weekly columns for the Courier which he did until 2004. He resumed writing them in 2013 until his retirement in 2016.

In 2010, Ron initiated the Hungry Kids Project to feed children in Prescott who were identified as having insufficient weekend food to return to school ready to learn on Monday. This program has since spread to the neighboring three districts in the area, Chino Valley, Humboldt and Mayer.

In lieu of flowers Ron has asked that donations be made to the Ron and Betsy Barnes Youth Leadership Scholarship Fund through the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF).

Donations should be addressed to ACF at 300 E. Willis St. #B, Prescott, AZ 86301 with “Ron and Betsy Barnes Youth Leadership Scholarship Fund” placed in the memo line.

A Celebration of Life will be scheduled in the future.