Ronald W. Drum was born on 4 March 1932 to Allen and Anita (nee Schuster) Drum, in Manitowoc. After graduating from Lincoln High School, Ronald received a Bachelor of Arts from Beloit College and later a Master of Arts from Western Michigan University.

For 30 years, Ronald served the Coloma Community School District, in Michigan, as a teacher, administrator, and music director. His position as music director was his greatest passion and that passion continues through the Ronald W. Drum Scholarship Fund. Annual distributions from this fund are made to Manitowoc County public high schools to be awarded as scholarships to students pursuing post-secondary studies in the field of education with a primary emphasis on music education.