Roderick Royal
Encyclopedia
Roderick V. Royal is the President of the Birmingham City Council.
Royal served for two months (November 2009-January 2010) as the 32nd Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama
occupying the office in the absence of former mayor Larry Langford
who was removed following a criminal conviction in a federal corruption case. Royal took over the post of acting mayor from Carole Smitherman
when he was installed as Council president by the newly-seated City Council on November 24, 2009. His tenure as Mayor ended when current Mayor William A. Bell
, took office on January 26, 2010.
Royal was born and raised in Birmingham and held elected office early in life, as student council president at Carrie A. Tuggle Elementary School
. He went on to hold the same position at A. H. Parker High School
. Royal then earned a bachelor's degree in political science at Tuskegee University
and a master's in public administration at Webster University
in Saint Louis, Missouri. He later completed a law enforcement program at the University of Alabama
.
During the first implementation of Birmingham's Community Participation Program, Royal served as a youth member of the Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association. He later was elected secretary of the East Thomas Neighborhood Association, serving two terms.
Royal has been employed as a statewide coordinator for Job Corps
, as an instructor at Miles College
, as a police officer, and as an officer in the United States Army
during Operation Desert Storm. Later he worked as a City Council assistant and served on several charitable boards.
Royal was first elected to the Birmingham City Council in 2001 and was re-elected in 2005 and 2009. Among the initiatives he has developed are the securing of bond funds to extend sewer service to underserved communities, a program to provide breakfast bars to elementary school students, and a campaign for public-sponsored in-school dental care.
Royal and his wife have three children.
Royal served for two months (November 2009-January 2010) as the 32nd Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
occupying the office in the absence of former mayor Larry Langford
Larry Langford
Larry Paul Langford is the former mayor of the city of Birmingham, Alabama. He previously served on the Jefferson County, Alabama, Commission, including four years as the first African American commission president. He also served as mayor of Fairfield, Alabama, and served one term on the...
who was removed following a criminal conviction in a federal corruption case. Royal took over the post of acting mayor from Carole Smitherman
Carole Smitherman
Carole Catlin Smitherman is a Birmingham City Councilor. Smitherman served briefly in 2009 as the 31st Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama....
when he was installed as Council president by the newly-seated City Council on November 24, 2009. His tenure as Mayor ended when current Mayor William A. Bell
William A. Bell
William A. Bell, Sr. became Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama in 2010. Bell previously held the office on an interim basis in 1999.-References:...
, took office on January 26, 2010.
Royal was born and raised in Birmingham and held elected office early in life, as student council president at Carrie A. Tuggle Elementary School
Birmingham City Schools
Birmingham City Schools is the public school district that serves the U.S. city of Birmingham, Alabama.It is currently the fourth largest school system in Alabama behind Mobile County Public School System, Jefferson County School System, and Montgomery Public Schools...
. He went on to hold the same position at A. H. Parker High School
A. H. Parker High School
A.H. Parker High School is a public high school located in Birmingham, Alabama. The school educates over 1,000 students in grades 9 to 12 in the Birmingham City Schools district.As of 2010 the principal is Cedric Tatum.- History :A.H...
. Royal then earned a bachelor's degree in political science at Tuskegee University
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee University is a private, historically black university located in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. It is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
and a master's in public administration at Webster University
Webster University
Webster University is an American non-profit private university with its main campus in Webster Groves, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. Webster University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools...
in Saint Louis, Missouri. He later completed a law enforcement program at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
.
During the first implementation of Birmingham's Community Participation Program, Royal served as a youth member of the Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association. He later was elected secretary of the East Thomas Neighborhood Association, serving two terms.
Royal has been employed as a statewide coordinator for Job Corps
Job Corps
Job Corps is a program administered by the United States Department of Labor that offers free-of-charge education and vocational training to youth ages 16 to 24.-Mission and purpose:...
, as an instructor at Miles College
Miles College
Miles College is a historically black college founded in 1898. It is located in Fairfield, Alabama, which is six miles west of Birmingham, Alabama. It is a private liberal arts institution of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church...
, as a police officer, and as an officer in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during Operation Desert Storm. Later he worked as a City Council assistant and served on several charitable boards.
Royal was first elected to the Birmingham City Council in 2001 and was re-elected in 2005 and 2009. Among the initiatives he has developed are the securing of bond funds to extend sewer service to underserved communities, a program to provide breakfast bars to elementary school students, and a campaign for public-sponsored in-school dental care.
Royal and his wife have three children.