Ron Branson was born and raised in and around Greensboro, North Carolina. Upon graduation from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving tours in Texas, California, Viet Nam, and Maryland. While in the Air Force, Ron met and married Cindy, and they have three grown children, and ten grandchildren.

After his military tour, Ron had a number of communications/computer related jobs, including the American Red Cross, the Greensboro Daily News & Record, Burlington Industries, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida, Burlington Industries again, First Tennessee Bank of Memphis, Lomas Mortgage. He retired in 2005 as a Vice President with MBNA Information Technology. During these employment stints, he went to school part time, obtaining his B.S. in Business Administration and Economics from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and his MBA in Information Technology Management from the University of Dallas.

Ron and his family moved to Carrollton in 1982, and he was elected to the Carrollton City Council in 2002 and 2005.

Ron was elected Carrollton Mayor in 2008, defeating incumbent Mayor Becky Miller.