It marks the end of an era. An iconic sports figure has passed away. Ronald Dean Preston died peacefully in his sleep on Weds., August 9. Preston was a colorful character and lived an eventful life, that sometimes made him larger than life.
Preston, the oldest child of Hilra and Nadine Preston, was born on April 9, 1948. Both Hilra and Nadine were long-term members of Mount Zion Baptist Church. The couple met during World War II at the segregated Camp George Jordan, where Hilra was stationed as a company barber in 1946. When “Ronnie” as his parents liked to call him was born the family lived in the Yesler Terrace Housing Projects. Hilra Owned a barbershop along with two other guys he knew from the Army. They called their shop The 3 Vets. By the time his sister, Linda, and brother, Michael, were born the family soon moved to a small house in the Central District near Miller Playfield.
Preston was an intelligent young boy who did well in school. At an early age, he went to church and Sunday school with his mom and dad at Mount Zion Baptist Church. He participated in the youth choir and enjoyed the church services. The Central District back in the 1950s was a Black neighborhood. There were all kinds of Black owned businesses and economic development.
Preston attended Stevens Elementary School, Meany Junior High School, and Garfield High School. In those years there was no busing and you went to neighborhood schools. At an early age, he was good at every sport and enjoyed playing kickball. Later, he would play baseball for the International Little League and football for The Central Area Youth Association (CAYA). He excelled in both sports and was among the league leaders and perennial all-stars throughout junior high.
While attending Garfield High School, Preston was an exceptional student athlete earning varsity letters in baseball, basketball and football his senior year. Preston was the Metro League’s scoring leader in football. Just to show what a great athlete he was, even though basketball was not his main sport, he holds the Garfield High School and Metro League record for points in a single game in basketball with a legendary 48-point performance. To this day, he remains a playground legend because of his ability to hold the court all day in pick-up games. Preston went on to play football and graduate from the University of Washington and also played professionally with the USFL and World Football Leagues. He was also an exceptional amateur boxer with a powerful left hook. He played a strong game of chess, and was also good at ping pong and tennis. He also played piano, bass guitar and loved listening to music.
As a young man, Preston was involved in various business ventures. Understanding that this lifestyle was not sustainable he chose a different path. He decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a barber and hair dresser. He eventually opened his own barbershop on Jackson Street in Seattle across the street from Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church where he ran a very successful operation. He then returned to church, and returned to his roots.
Preston was the type of man who every man wanted to be, and almost every woman wanted to be with. He was tall, dark, handsome, beautiful blue eyes, strong, smart, generous, gentle and kind. His personal romantic life was complicated. He was the father of 5 children. Ronald was friendly and outgoing and had numerous friends and people who cherished him for his strength of character, loyalty, uniqueness, happy personality, and beautiful smile.
Preston is survived by his sons Akili Mosi Secka (formerly Michael LaVance Preston), Kevin Curvey Preston, his daughter Razsha Preston, twins Rauson Dean Preston & Hilra Jack (HJ) Preston, and his stepdaughter Lashaun Matthews-Anderson. He also has three siblings who have survived him, they are Michael Royce Preston, Venita Loyce Preston, and Melody Joyce Preston. Preston was married twice and is survived by his first wife, Janet A. Jones Preston, second wife, Jacqueline M. Preston, and Patricia Curvey (the mother of Kevin Curvey Preston). His other family also includes grandchildren, many cousins and relatives in the Seattle and San Francisco areas.
Yes, the end of an era. People like Ronald Dean Preston do not come along very often. An elite athlete with a larger than life personality all rolled into an exceptional human being. He was surely one of Seattle’s finest.
Funeral services will be held for Preston at 11:00 a.m. this Friday, Aug. 18 at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church – 2810 S. Jackson Street in Seattle.
