Bob C. Mayer, CFE, and Roy Saunders, CFE
A piece of Tulsa history passes on with Roy Saunders, CFE. 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 CVB, 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.
“It was an honor and a privilege for me to work for Roy Saunders for 10 years before his retirement in 1993 as director of public events for the City of Tulsa,” said Bob C. Mayer, CFE, past IAVM president. “He instilled in me a passion for the industry and for the association that he loved so much. I learned so much about managing public assembly venues from Roy and his protégé in Oklahoma City, Dan Saunders (no relation), who I worked for before moving to Tulsa.”
Roy was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas, August 20, 1930, to Bonnie and Sydney 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 to 1952 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 college’s theater production of My Little Margie. The couple married in 1955 and moved to Topeka, Kansas. Roy graduated with honors in 1957, earning a degree in business administration from Washburn University.
Saunders was a long-time member of the International Association of Auditorium Managers (IAAM, now called IAVM), joining in 1957. Roy 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. Saunders is the only person in IAAM/IAVM history to be the recipient of the IAAM Mr. Auditorium Manager award, the Charles A McElravy award (the industry’s highest honor), and serve as IAAM president. Roy saw a need for top-level training for entertainment venue executives and helped conceive and found the Venue Management School (formerly Public Assembly Facility Management School) in 1987.
“It seemed that Roy mentored just about everyone that he came in contact with and would share his expertise and/or opinion on about any topic,” Mayer said. “He always enjoyed meeting new members of IAVM and wouldn’t hesitate in making them feel comfortable and would always offer to help them learn about the profession. He was certainly instrumental in helping to launch new educational offerings for the industry, including the Venue Management School at Oglebay Park in Wheeling, WV.”
Roy and Joyce celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary on March 5. 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 Saunders, CFE, and past IAVM presidents.
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 people with stories of past adventures, some of which were still funny after the eighth or ninth telling. He was a long-time volunteer at Hillcrest Medical Center, and was very proud of his Cherokee heritage.
“As anyone knows who ever met Roy, he was a great storyteller,” Mayer said. “He had an unbelievable memory for dates and events and a wonderful historical perspective that came out in the stories that he told. Each one included a teachable kernel that you could learn something from.”
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.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the American Cancer Society, or honoring a Veteran by picking up his or her lunch tab.
Memorial service to be held 2 p.m. on Friday, April 22, at Ninde’s Brookside Chapel in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“Roy’s strength of character, incredible wit, great sense of humor, passion for his profession, and devotion to his many friends will be missed by everyone who knew him,” Mayer said. “Rest in peace, Roy.”
(Images: Bob C. Mayer, CFE)
Roy was one of the true characters and leaders of our Association and industry and will be missed by all.
What an amazing life! He surely did it right; filled it with joy, influenced and mentored others and shared every day with family and friends he loved.
Roy was a true pioneer in our industry. As a young professional just getting started in this crazy work world, Roy was always there for advice.
I still smile at the image of Roy in his Indian headdress. I hope he took it with him to heaven.
I will never forget when Roy was giving his acceptance speech as IAAM’s new President and put on the Indian headdress. He was an amazing man! Rest in peace Roy.
I love Roy in that Indian headdress. Who could forget that?
Roy was one of a kind. As much as we remember his keen sense of humor, it was his way of talking straight at you, making you the most important person in the room, that I most cherished about Roy.
As a young leader coming up the ranks I was able to sit with Roy for lunch at a past IAVM event and loved his warmth and humor and willingness to share all he had learned. The sign of a remarkable leader and a wonderful human being. He will be missed.