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{{Short description|American basketball player (1942–2016)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
 | name              = Ron Bonham
 | image             = 1963 NCAA Basketball Championship program - Ron Bonham (cropped).jpg
 | width             = 
 | caption           = Bonham in a [[1963 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1963 NCAA tournament]] game program
 | height_ft         = 6
 | height_in         = 5
 | weight_lb         = 192
 | birth_date        = {{birth date|1942|05|31}}
 | birth_place       = [[Muncie, Indiana]], U.S.
 | death_date        = {{death date and age|2016|04|16|1942|05|31}}
 | death_place       = Muncie, Indiana, U.S.
 | high_school       = [[Muncie Central High School|Muncie Central]] (Muncie, Indiana)
 | college           = [[Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball|Cincinnati]] (1961–1964)
 | draft_year        = 1964
 | draft_round       = 2
 | draft_pick        = 16
 | draft_team        = [[Boston Celtics]]
 | career_start      = 1964
 | career_end        = 1968
 | career_position   = [[Small forward]] / [[shooting guard]]
 | career_number     = 21, 30
 | years1            = {{nbay|1964|start}}–{{nbay|1965|end}}
 | team1             = [[Boston Celtics]]
 | years2            = [[1967–68 ABA season|1967–1968]]
 | team2             = [[Indiana Pacers]]
|highlights = 
* 2× [[List of NBA champions|NBA champion]] ([[1965 NBA Finals|1965]], [[1966 NBA Finals|1966]])
* [[List of NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Champions|NCAA champion]] ([[1962 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1962]])
* Consensus first-team [[NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-American]] ([[1963 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1963]])
* Consensus second-team All-American ([[1964 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1964]])
* 3× First-team All-[[Missouri Valley Conference|MVC]] (1962–1964)
* First-team [[Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team|''Parade'' All-American]] (1960)
* [[Indiana Mr. Basketball]] (1960)
 | stats_league      = NBA and ABA
|stat1label = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
|stat1value = 723 (6.1 ppg)
|stat2label = [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
|stat2value = 170 (1.4 rpg)
|stat3label = [[Assist (basketball)|Assists]]
|stat3value = 44 (0.4 apg)
 | bbr               = bonharo01
}}
'''Ronald D. Bonham''' (May 31, 1942 – April 16, 2016) was an American professional [[basketball]] player. He won two [[NBA championships]] with the [[Boston Celtics]] and a college national title at the [[University of Cincinnati]].

==Early life==
Born May 31, 1942, in Muncie, he was the only child of Russell D. and Carmen I. (Neel) Bonham.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/thestarpress/name/ronald-bonham-obituary?id=17830887|title=Ronald D. Bonham Obituary (1942 - 2016) The Star Press|website=Legacy.com}}</ref>

A {{convert|6|ft|5|in|m|adj=on}} [[swingman]], Bonham attended [[Muncie Central High School]] in [[Muncie, Indiana]], where he earned the nickname "The Muncie Mortar" and "The Blond Bomber."<ref name="google">{{cite book|title=Glory Days Indiana: Legends of Indiana High School Basketball|author=Denny, D.|date=2013|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated|isbn=9781613214824|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3u0sAgAAQBAJ|accessdate=2015-06-12}}</ref> As a senior, he averaged 28 points per game and earned Indiana's "Mr. Basketball" award as he led his team to the state runner-up spot. He was twice named first-team All-Indiana and was named MVP of both Indiana vs. Kentucky all-star games as a senior.

He graduated in 1960 as Muncie Central's all-time leading scorer with 2,023 points, which also made him the all-time scorer for the state of Indiana.<ref name="celtic-nation">{{cite web|url=http://www.celtic-nation.com/interviews/ron_bonham/ron_bonham_page1.htm|title=Celtic Nation:&nbsp;THE unofficial home of the Boston Celtics|publisher=celtic-nation.com|accessdate=2015-06-12}}</ref><ref name="hoopshall">{{cite web|url=http://www.hoopshall.com/hall-of-fame/ron-bonham/?back=HallofFame|title=Ron Bonham &#124; Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame|publisher=hoopshall.com|accessdate=2015-06-12}}</ref>

==College career==
Bonham narrowed his college choices to [[Purdue University]] and the [[University of Cincinnati]]. He attended Purdue for three days, but realizing he would be required to enroll in ROTC for two years and would not be able to have a car on campus as a freshman, he returned home<ref name="celtic-nation"/> and then decided to attend his other choice, Cincinnati, due largely to the national success gained by the Bearcats during the recent [[Oscar Robertson]] era.<ref name="celticslife">{{cite web|url=http://www.celticslife.com/2012/02/what-hell-happened-toron-bonham.html|title=What the Hell Happened to...Ron Bonham? &#124; CelticsLife.com – Boston Celtics Fan Site, Blog, T-shirts|date=17 February 2012 |publisher=celticslife.com|accessdate=2015-06-12}}</ref>

As a sophomore under coach [[Ed Jucker]], Bonham averaged 14.3 points per game,<ref name="grfx.cstv.com">{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214170742/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/cinn/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/1011UCMBKMEDIASUP.pdf |title=Cincinnati 2010-2011 Men's Basketball Team Media Supplement |date=Dec 14, 2013}}</ref> led the Bearcats with a .760 free throw percentage and was named All-[[Missouri Valley Conference]] (MVC).<ref name="grfx.cstv.com"/> The Bearcats won the MVC title and posted a 29–2 overall record. Led by Bonham, [[Tom Thacker (basketball)|Tom Thacker]], [[George Wilson (basketball, born 1942)|George Wilson]], [[Tony Yates]] and [[Paul Hogue]], on March 24, 1962, they won their second consecutive NCAA championship with a 71–59 win over [[Ohio State]].<ref name="grfx.cstv.com"/>

As a junior in 1962–63, Bonham led the Bearcats in scoring with 21.0 points per game and in free throw percentage at .892, again earning All-MVC honors.<ref name="grfx.cstv.com"/> He was named a consensus first-team All-American selection.<ref name="grfx.cstv.com"/> The Bearcats went 26–2 and again won the MVC, but on their way to a third national championship they were defeated in the finals by [[Loyola University Chicago]] in overtime, 60–58.<ref name="grfx.cstv.com"/>

As a senior, he again led the Bearcats in scoring with a 24.4 average and a .819 free throw percentage and was co-team MVP with [[George Wilson (basketball, born 1942)|George Wilson]].<ref name="grfx.cstv.com"/> For the third straight season, he earned All-MVC honors and was named second-team All-American.<ref name="grfx.cstv.com"/> Cincinnati ended the season 17–9.<ref name="grfx.cstv.com"/>

In his three-year career, he scored 1,666 points, which was second only to [[Oscar Robertson]] and still ranks seventh all-time at Cincinnati.<ref name="grfx.cstv.com"/>

==Professional career==
Bonham was selected in the second round (16th overall) in the [[1964 NBA draft]] by the [[Boston Celtics]]. As a rookie in 1964–65, he was a backup forward, played 10 minutes per game in 37 games and averaged 7.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.<ref name="basketball-reference">{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bonharo01.html|title=Ron Bonham NBA & ABA Stats|website=[[Basketball Reference]]|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=4 April 2024}}</ref> He did, however, win a championship ring as the Celtics went 62–18 and won the NBA title with a five-game series victory over the [[Los Angeles Lakers]].<ref name="basketball-reference2">{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1965.html|title=1964-65 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats &#124; Basketball-Reference.com|publisher=basketball-reference.com|accessdate=2015-06-12}}</ref>

In 1965–66, his playing time decreased to eight minutes per game in 39 games as he averaged 5.2 and 0.9 rebounds per game for the 54–26 Celtics.<ref name="basketball-reference"/><ref name="basketball-reference3">{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1966.html|title=1965-66 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats &#124; Basketball-Reference.com|publisher=basketball-reference.com|accessdate=2015-06-12}}</ref> The Celtics, however, won the NBA title again, this time in seven games over the Lakers.<ref name="basketball-reference3"/>

His NBA career ended after those two seasons. He didn't play professionally in 1966–67, but in 1967–68 he returned to play in the [[American Basketball Association]] (ABA) for the [[Indiana Pacers]]. In 42 games, he averaged 5.8 points and 1.4 rebounds per game in what was his final season in the pros.<ref name="basketball-reference"/>

==Personal life==
Bonham served as the City of Muncie assistant parks superintendent and chief caretaker of 2,300-acre Prairie Creek Park<ref name="celtic-nation"/> in Indiana for 38 years until 2011. For 12 years during that time, he served three terms as a [[Delaware County, Indiana]], commissioner.<ref name="cityofmuncie">{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofmuncie.com/news/?naid=242|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319060010/http://www.cityofmuncie.com/news/?naid=242 |archive-date=2014-03-19 |url-status=dead|title=City of Muncie Celebrates 1st Ever "Ron Bonham Day" &#124; City of Muncie, Indiana|accessdate=2015-06-12}}</ref> On June 30, 2012, upon his retirement, the City of Muncie declared it  "Ron Bonham Day" for all he has accomplished and meant to the area.<ref name="cityofmuncie"/>

He and his wife, JJ, resided on a 52-acre property that doubles as a wildlife habitat in Delaware County. As of 2016 they had been married 43 years, and they had one daughter, Dr. Nicole Sims.<ref name="google"/> Bonham died of liver cancer on April 16, 2016, at age 73.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2016/04/16/local-basketball-legend-ron-bonham-dies/83135098/|title = Muncie basketball legend Ron Bonham dies}}</ref>

In 1986, he was inducted into the University of Cincinnati Athletics Hall of Fame.<ref name="gobearcats">{{cite web|url=http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/hallfame/mtt/ron_bonham_753407.html|title=GoBEARCATS.COM Ron Bonham Bio – University Of Cincinnati Official Athletic Site University Of Cincinnati|publisher=gobearcats.com|accessdate=2015-06-12}}</ref> In 1991, he was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.<ref name="hoopshall"/>

==Career statistics==
{{NBA player statistics legend|champion=y}}

===NBA/ABA===
Source<ref name="basketball-reference"/>

====Regular season====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:right;"
!Year
!Team
!GP
!MPG
!FG%
!3P%
!FT%
!RPG
!APG
!PPG
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| {{nbay|1964}}†
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1964–65 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 37 || 10.0 || '''.414''' || || .821 || '''2.1''' || '''.5''' || '''7.4'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| {{nbay|1965}}†
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1965–66 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 39 || 8.0 || .367 || || '''.852''' || .9 || .3 || 5.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{abay|1967}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1967–68 Indiana Pacers season|Indiana]] (ABA)
| '''42''' || '''10.1''' || .381 || .000 || .810 || 1.4 || .3 || 5.8
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career (NBA)
| 76 || 9.0 || .391 || || .832 || 1.5 || .4 || 6.3
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career (overall)
| 118 || 9.4 || .388 || .000 || .824 || 1.4 || .4 || 6.1
{{S-end}}

====Playoffs====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:right;"
!Year
!Team
!GP
!MPG
!FG%
!3P%
!FT%
!RPG
!APG
!PPG
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| [[1965 NBA playoffs|1965]]†
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1964–65 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| 4 || 3.3 || .417 || || .800 || .3 || .0 || 3.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| [[1966 NBA playoffs|1966]]†
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1965–66 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| '''5''' || 3.2 || '''.636''' || || .333 || .6 || .0 || 3.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{abay|1967}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1967–68 Indiana Pacers season|Indiana]] (ABA)
| 3 || '''10.0''' || .267 || &ndash; || '''.833''' || '''2.0''' || '''1.0''' || '''4.3'''
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career (NBA)
| 9 || 3.2 || .522 || || .500 || .4 || .0 || 3.4
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career (overall)
| 12 || 4.9 || .421 || &ndash; || .600 || .8 || .3 || 3.7
{{S-end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{basketballstats|bbr=b/bonharo01|name=Ron Bonham}}

{{Navboxes|list1=
{{1962 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball navbox}}
{{1963 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1964 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1964 NBA draft}}
{{Boston Celtics 1964-65 NBA champions}}
{{Boston Celtics 1965-66 NBA champions}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonham, Ron}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:All-American college men's basketball players]]
[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Boston Celtics draft picks]]
[[Category:Boston Celtics players]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Chicago Bulls expansion draft picks]]
[[Category:County commissioners in Indiana]]
[[Category:Deaths from liver cancer in the United States]]
[[Category:Indiana Pacers players]]
[[Category:Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball)]]
[[Category:Shooting guards]]
[[Category:Small forwards]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Muncie, Indiana]]