Early Life
Speer was born in Key West, Florida. the home of a U.S. Naval Base. He was raised in very simple surroundings by his Mother and Grandparents who were of Spanish descent. As a young boy, he earned money by selling newspapers and polishing the shoes of Navy personnel. From his roots in Key West, saltwater fishing and boating were his great personal enjoyments throughout his life. One of the crowning moments of his life occurred when he won the coveted Ernest Hemingway Billfish Tournament - The Masters - of Deep Sea Marlin Fishing.
Roy attended the Gordon Military Academy located on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia. He later joined the Army but suffered a severe ankle injury during paratrooper training. He received a medical discharge in 1953.
Under the G.I. Bill, Roy was able to obtain an undergraduate education from Southern Methodist University. He subsequently attended Stetson University College of Law where he received his Bachelor of Law Degree. He passed the Florida Bar exam later in the same year. He often said that no matter how many business failures or financial difficulties one might experience in life, there is one thing that can never be taken away - your education. Roy often encouraged people to further their education and often sponsored people when they took his advice and pursued a college degree.
Roy married his wife Lynnda on July 22, 1960 at Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Florida. They had two children, Richard and Lisa. Roy also had a son, Robert, from a previous marriage.
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