Ronald “Captain Ron” McNiel

November 5, 1948 – November 29, 2025

With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Ronald McNiel – lovingly known as Captain Ron. He was a man of music, and he leaves behind a legacy as vibrant and unforgettable as the skies under which he loved to fish.

Ron attended Edison High School in San Antonio and stood out as a natural leader and athlete. He served as a squad leader in the ROTC, and his dedication and charisma earned him the title of captain for both the basketball and baseball teams. Baseball held a special place in his heart—a sport he continued to enjoy well into adulthood.

After high school, Ron attended Southwest Texas State Junior College in Uvalde, Texas, where he joined the rodeo team and competed as a skilled team roper. His adventurous spirit and love for the outdoors were evident in every ride.

Ron’s love for music began early. At 14, he formed his first rock and roll band, The Renegades. They became a regular act at the Teen Canteen in the 1960s and proudly won the “Battle of the Bands”—a moment Ron always held dear.

By 18, he had shifted to country and western swing, founding Ronnie McNiel and The Rough Riders. The band quickly gained popularity across the region and was honored as the house band for the 1968 World’s Fair in San Antonio. The Rough Riders also backed several well-known artists, including Darrell McCall, Johnny Bush, Dottie West, Jimmy Dean, Leon Payne, and Willie Nelson.

For Ron, music was more than a talent—it was his true language. He poured his heart into every note, with soul, rhythm, and a smile that made it clear he was exactly where he was meant to be.

Between the music, hunting, and fishing, Ron met and fell in love with his wife, Patty - who shared his love for fishing and had a deep appreciation for the music that moved his soul.

Ron enjoyed a successful career as a top salesman and division manager for TIFCO Industries. Later, he and Patty combined their talents to build their own business, PEM Distributing. While Ron thrived in sales, Patty worked diligently behind the scenes, making them a strong and complementary team both in business and in life.

Ron was also an avid outdoorsman. He found peace and joy in the quiet of early mornings spent hunting and the calm of afternoons on the water with a fishing rod in hand, a cooler nearby, and a few choice words for the fish that got away. These moments in nature were more than hobbies; they were part of who he was.

Later in life, he met Linda Hermann and spent wonderful years together in San Antonio and Rockport enjoying traveling, fishing, and Copano Bay sunsets. 

He loved fiercely, laughed with abandon, and lived life on his own terms. Whether spinning tales that grew more colorful with each telling, celebrating a lucky streak at the poker machine, or playfully grumbling over a tangled fishing line, he embraced every moment with heart and humor.

Ron is survived by his son, Darin, and daughter-in-law, Annie; his daughter, Kara and son-in-law, Khris; and his three grandchildren—Connor & Cullen Coffey, and Bode McNiel—who brought him endless joy and pride. His love for music and sunsets over Copano Bay lives on in each of them, in every note played and every golden evening shared. Though he’s no longer here to cast a line or strum a tune, his spirit lingers in the laughter of his grandkids, the stories retold around the table, and the quiet beauty of a Texas sunset. Captain Ron may have sailed on, but his melody plays on in the hearts of those who loved him.

A celebration of Ron’s life will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at John T. Floore’s Country Store in Helotes, Texas.

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