Ronald Joe Record was born in Enid, Oklahoma at 11:11 am on December 4th. The first of four children, his parents and siblings all continue to reside in Enid. Ronald's father, Joe Neil Record, taught Physical Education at Phillips University where he was the Athletic Director and Baseball Coach. Joe Record was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame and is currently retired. Ronald's mother, Lois Elaine Record, is a Cosmetologist and owner/founder of the Enid Beauty College. Lois has won several state and national cosmetology awards and continues to do exceptionally well as an independent small-business woman.

While growing up on the East side of Enid, little Ronnie had the opportunity to attend Adams Elementary School with the Allen family. The Allens were full-blood Native Americans and their two boys, Cowboy and Floyd, also attended Adams. Cowboy Allen was the biggest, fastest, strongest kid on the East Side and every day at recess he and his brother Floyd would position themselves strategically under a row of crabapple trees. From this vantage point they would pummel the other students with rock-hard crabapples. Recess at Adams Elementary became a lesson in survival. Many years later, while hopping freight one morning Ronnie saw this spray painted on the side of a box car :