Obituary of Roy Saunders

A piece of Tulsa history passes on with Roy Saunders. If you’ve ever attended a rock concert, hockey game, circus, trade show, the ballet, opera or symphony in Tulsa, then chances are you were in one of “Roy’s buildings.” As Director of Public Events for the City of Tulsa for over three decades, Roy oversaw the construction, opening and operation of the Tulsa Convention and Assembly Center (now the Cox Center) and the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, from 1962-1993. He worked tirelessly with eight mayoral administrations, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce, the Arts and Humanities Council, numerous national promoters, and Carson Attractions, to bring business and top-name entertainment events to his beloved Tulsa. Roy was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas, August 20, 1930, to Bonnie (Hughes) and Sidney Saunders. The family later moved to Pratt, Kansas, where Roy graduated from Pratt High School in 1948. He proudly served in the United States Army as a Finance Officer from 1948-52 during the occupation of Germany. Roy then returned to Kansas and started college. He met the love of his life when he and Joyce Smith were cast as the two leads in their school's theater production of My Little Margie. The couple married in 1955 and moved to Topeka. Roy graduated with honors in 1957, earning a degree in Business Administration from Washburn University. Roy was a long-time member of the International Association of Auditorium Managers/IAAM (now called IAVM), joining in 1957. He served in numerous capacities and held every office within the association. His influence as a leader, mentor and friend to the membership spanned seven decades. Roy is the only person in IAAM/IAVM history to be the recipient of the IAAM Auditorium Manager of the Year award, the Charles A. McElravy award (the industry’s highest honor), and to serve as IAAM President. Roy saw a need for top-level training for entertainment venue executives and helped conceive and found the Oglebay School of Business in 1987. Roy and Joyce celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary on March 5th. The couple loved to travel and visited more than 50 countries on six continents and all 50 of the United States. Roy loved adventure; he was an avid fan of all types of auto racing and was himself a stock car driver. He enjoyed water skiing, trick skiing, hunting, fishing, woodworking, and could build just about anything. Roy was beloved by his family, friends, neighbors and professional associates. He was noted for his ever-present sense of humor; Roy was a great storyteller who always had a twinkle in his eye and a good joke up his sleeve. He was never happier than when he was holding court at the dining room table, with family all around, dispensing sage advice and regaling them with stories of past adventures….some of which were still funny even after the eighth or ninth telling. He was a long-time volunteer at Hillcrest Medical Center, and was very proud of his Cherokee heritage. Roy is survived by his wife Joyce; son Greg and wife Debbie of Tulsa; daughter Dawn Black and husband Dusty of Austin, Texas; and grandchildren Gabrielle, Ford, Bella and Luke. The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 PM Thursday at Ninde Brookside Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held 2:00 PM Friday at Ninde Brookside Funeral Home Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the American Cancer Society, 4110 S. 100th East Ave., St. 101, Tulsa, OK 74146, www.cancer.org/donate or by honoring a Veteran by picking up their lunch tab. Ninde Funeral Directors, Brookside Chapel (918) 742-5556 www.ninde.com