Ron Potter Smiley, age 79, ascended into the next life on January 26, 2015 at a hospital in Richardson TX after a courageous battle with a sudden, brief illness. Born in Old Forge PA on November 14, 1935, Ron was a resident of Dallas for the last 38 years of his life. Early on, he loved the sport of baseball. After graduating in 1953 from Mount Penn High School in Redding PA, Ron played shortstop in the minor leagues for both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs. He subsequently joined the US Army and served honorably in Alaska. Shortly before his discharge in 1964, Ron followed in his father’s footsteps and joined International Business Machines Corporation in its Dallas TX office. While there, he attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth and met his future wife, Glenda. After working out of IBM’s offices in Houston and Los Angeles, in 1977 Ron was transferred back to Dallas where he was a mainframe salesman to a series of the major integrated oil companies. Ron was a talented salesman whose success stemmed from his low-key manner, consummate knowledge of his highly-technical products and unwavering commitment to providing superior service to his clients. He retired from IBM in 2000, after a distinguished 37-year career. Over the decades Ron’s passion for baseball never waned. He was an enthusiastic spectator and a loyal fan of the Texas Rangers. In retirement Ron launched a campaign for the Baseball Hall of Fame to induct baseball scouts, the outstanding individuals whom he believed were responsible for finding and identifying baseball stars throughout the history of the sport. Although no organization has recognized scouts yet, Ron’s work elevated with the Society of American Baseball Research the level of appreciation of their invaluable role. Ron was a highly-principled man of impeccable integrity. He also was extraordinarily kind, thoughtful and generous. Ron always selflessly put the needs, wants and feelings of others ahead of his own. He was profoundly devoted to his family. Every day, Ron strove to enhance their happiness. He especially delighted in eliciting peals of laughter from them with one of his subtle, soft-spoken humorous remarks. Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Warren and Lenore Smiley, and his beloved wife, Glenda. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Robin and Bradley Ward of Plano TX, numerous friends, and by his cat, Fred. The memorial service will be held at 12:00 PM on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church, 9800 Preston Rd, Dallas TX 75230-5044. In lieu of flowers, Robin requests donations either to Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church or Operation Kindness, 3201 Earhart Dr, Carrollton TX 75006-5025.