At least he pretended to be, along with his younger brothers when they were boys living in Turkey.

To date, Ron Beasley’s singing career has mainly consisted of involvement in his church choir and karaoke engagements, but his running achievements continue to soar.

Beasley first became aware of his athletic aptitude at the age of nine. During recess, the children would race 200 meters up and down a hill. Competition was sparse except for that of “Richard Orr,” the impetus of Beasley’s running career.

“We were the top two runners,” Ron explained. “We were always trying to beat each other.”

Ron continued to run in high school and had much success as a sprinter particularly in 400m events. He was actively recruited as a walk-on at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor but was unable to fit it into his schedule.

Computer IT consultant by day, running has remained a constant source of enjoyment for Beasley throughout the years. Ron’s identity as a sprinter has remained unchanged, and his favorite events in which to compete are the 100, 200 and 400m dashes as well as the long jump.

Beasley’s proudest athletic achievements include July 1998 when he took fourth in the 200m dash at the USATF Open and Masters National Championships on the campus of the University of Maine. The following year, Beasley ran the 400m in 50.3 seconds at the Quicksilver Invitational in Atlanta, GA, and in July 2009 during the USATF Open and Masters National Championship at the University of Wisconsin, Ron’s 1600m-relay team placed first in their age division.

A member of the AATC since 1990, Beasley served as club president from January 1999 through December 2003. During his tenure, he took on the role of chairperson/division director for the Ann Arbor Track Club’s Youth Program and has remained dedicated ever since. In March 2010, the Road Runners Club of America named Ron recipient of the 2009 Outstanding Youth Program Director of the Year award in honor of Kurt Steiner, a pioneer in the organization of youth events, age group scoring and awards.

For over ten years, Ron has embodied the award’s criterion in having “done a significant job in promoting, developing and managing” a community based children’s running program that has engaged children of various ethnicity, age and socio-economic status.

Ron emphasized that he is “honored, humbled, surprised and thankful” of the tribute. He maintains that the club’s accomplishments have been a “team effort” and is grateful to his coaches, parents, board of directors and all of the children who give their best efforts day in and out.

Ron loves to travel anywhere that is tropical and sunny and will likely retire some day in south Florida.

“It don’t get any better than Ron!” praised Ellen Nitz, AATC secretary.

Florida will just have to wait.