Roderick Royal facts for kids

Roderick V. Royal (born October 4, 1965) is a former leader on the Birmingham City Council. He also served for a short time as the Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama.

Royal stepped in as the 32nd Mayor of Birmingham from November 2009 to January 2010. He took over after the previous mayor, Larry Langford, left office. Royal became the acting mayor when he was chosen as the City Council President on November 24, 2009. His time as mayor ended when William A. Bell became the new mayor on January 26, 2010.

Early Life and Education

Roderick Royal grew up right in Birmingham, Alabama. He showed leadership skills from a young age. He was elected student council president at Carrie A. Tuggle Elementary School. Later, he held the same important position at A. H. Parker High School.

After high school, Royal continued his education. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Tuskegee University. He then went on to get a master's degree in public administration from Webster University in Saint Louis, Missouri. He also completed a special program in law enforcement at the University of Alabama.

Community Involvement

Royal was active in his community even before holding major public office. When Birmingham started its first Community Participation Program, he was a youth member of the Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association. Later, he was elected secretary of the East Thomas Neighborhood Association, serving two terms. This shows his long-standing commitment to helping his local community.

Career and Public Service

Throughout his career, Roderick Royal has held many different jobs. He worked as a statewide coordinator for Job Corps, which helps young people find jobs. He was also an instructor at Miles College. Royal served as a police officer, helping to keep his community safe.

He also served his country as an officer in the United States Army during Operation Desert Storm. After his military service, he worked as an assistant for the City Council. He also volunteered his time on several charitable boards, helping various causes.

Time on the City Council

Roderick Royal was first elected to the Birmingham City Council in 2001. The people of Birmingham re-elected him in both 2005 and 2009. During his time on the Council, he worked on several important projects.

One of his key achievements was getting funds to expand sewer service. This helped bring essential services to communities that didn't have them before. He also started a program to give breakfast bars to elementary school students. This helped make sure young students had a good start to their day. Additionally, he led a campaign to provide dental care for students right in their schools.