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Bill Royce

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Not to be confused with William Royce.
Bill Royce
No. 85
PositionDefensive end
Class1993
Personal information
Born: (1971-07-14) July 14, 1971 (age 53)
Mount Gilead, Ohio
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight255 lb (116 kg)
Career history
CollegeAshland (1990-93)
High schoolNorthmor
College Football Hall of Fame (2016)

Bill Royce (born July 14, 1971) is an American former college football player. He is currently a sales executive for Astec Industries Materials Solutions Group. While at Northmor High School, Royce had top eight finishes during the 1989 Ohio High School Athletic Association championship. At Ashland College, Royce was fourth at the shot put held during the 1992 NCAA Division II men's indoor track and field championships. With the Ashland Eagles football team, he was a Player of the Year for the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference and nominated for the Harlon Hill Trophy twice. Royce's 71 sacks became a career record the school and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Outside of football, Royce began his recycling career with Eagle Crusher during 2002. He held executive positions with the company before joining KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens in 2011. Royce continued to work in sales there throughout the 2010s before joining Astec. Royce joined the College Football Hall of Fame during 2016.

Early life

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Royce was born on July 14, 1971, in Mount Gilead, Ohio.[1] During the late 1980s, he was nicknamed "Rolls" while on the football team for Northmor High School.[2] With the team, Royce was a linebacker and wide receiver.[3] Royce was an All-Mid Ohio Conference player during 1986.[4] He also was on "the 1988 United Press International Division V all-Ohio football team."[5] That year, he received a varsity letter.[6] Overall, Royce accumulated 2839 yards.[7]

With the Lexington Lions All-Stars, Royce played in the 1989 McDonald's Football Classic.[8][9] Outside of football, he participated in athletics while at Northmour.[10] As a Class A athlete, he entered the Ohio High School Athletic Association championship in 1989.[11][12] At the event, he had top eight finishes in the shotput and discus.[13][14]

College career

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With a scholarship, Royce signed to Ashland College in 1989.[10]

While with the Ashland Eagles throughout the early 1990s, Royce was a tight end before becoming a defensive end. [15] From 1991 to 1993, Royce consecutively had the most season sacks for the school.[16] During this time period, Royce set season records in sacks for the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference multiple times.[17] He injured his ACL during the 1994 Snow Bowl.[18] That year, he underwent rehabilitation and surgery for his knee injury.[19]

After his time at Ashland, Royce set the National Collegiate Athletic Association career sacks record with 71 sacks.[20] His sacks remained a career record at Ashland during 2023.[21] As an athlete, he "[won] the 19-to-24 year-old discus event" at the 1991 Ohio Sports Festival.[22] The following year, He was fourth in shot put at the NCAA Division II men's indoor track and field championships.[23] Outside of sports, Royce studied business administration at Ashland.[24]

Post-football career

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Royce had worked "in the finance, banking and insurance industries" before joining Eagle Crusher in 2002.[25] During his recycling career, he became Territory Sales Manager the following year.[26] During 2010, he was the company's president.[27] In 2011, Royce was in sales with KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens.[28] Throughout the 2010s, he worked there as a regional sales manager.[29][30] By 2020, he joined Astec Industries Materials Solutions Group at Summerlin, Nevada.[31] With Astec, he continued his regional executive career during 2023.[32]

Awards and honors

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In 1991, Royce was named an All-MIFC player and won the Best Defensive Back for Ashland.[33][34] While being re-selected as an All-MIFC player, he won the Player of the Year award once and the Defensive Lineman of the Year award twice leading up to 1993.[35] Royce was nominated twice for the Harlon Hill Trophy.[36][37]

Royce was on The Associated Press Little All-America team during 1992 and 1993.[38][39] In athletics, he was an All-American during 1992.[40] He was inducted into the Ashland University Hall of Fame in 2005[41] and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Bill Royce (2016) - Hall of Fame". National Football Foundation. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  2. ^ Spencer, Jon (October 7, 1987). "'Air Ball'". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. p. 1–E.
  3. ^ Spencer 1987, pp. 1-E, 5-E
  4. ^ "Vicencio wins first-team spot on MOC squad". The Marion Star. November 14, 1986. p. 11.
  5. ^ Caddes, Gene (December 9, 1988). "Area gridders are given honors". The Bryan Times. United Press International. p. 14.
  6. ^ "3 Knights awarded 3rd letters". The Marion Star. November 16, 1988. p. 14.
  7. ^ "Players headed for Ashland". News-Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. April 15, 1989. p. 4-B.
  8. ^ Grove, Phil (June 29, 1989). "Jeffries, Royce to put forth team effort". The Galion Inquirer. p. 10.
  9. ^ McHale, T.E. (July 2, 1989). "North cuts South off at the 'pass' in gird rout". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. pp. 1-D, 13-D.
  10. ^ a b "Northmor's Royce to play for Ashland". The Galion Inquirer. April 12, 1989. p. 8.
  11. ^ Spencer, Jon (June 21, 1989). "'Rolls' is a Cadillac". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. pp. 1–B, 4–B.
  12. ^ "Chasing state championships". The Marion Star. June 2, 1989. p. 11.
  13. ^ Spencer, Jon (June 3, 1989). "State Placers". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. p. 4-B.
  14. ^ Grove, Phil (June 5, 1989). "Northmour's Miley wins state crown". The Galion Inquirer. p. 6.
  15. ^ "AU's Royce named player of the week". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. Staff and wire reports. October 22, 1991. p. 1-B.
  16. ^ "Ashland University Football Record Book (Through 8-23-23)" (PDF). Ashland University. August 23, 2023. p. 29. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  17. ^ Kent, Rusty (September 14, 1993). "Northmor graduate in final year at Ashland". The Gallon Inquirer. p. 9.
  18. ^ Kent, Rusty (January 13, 1994). "Royce facing unfamiliar situation — rehabilitation". The Gallon Inquirer. p. 8.
  19. ^ Spencer, Jon (July 16, 1994). "All-American attitude keeps gridder upbeat". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. p. 1D.
  20. ^ Cavadi, Wayne (January 15, 2016). "College football: Ashland defensive great Bill Royce to enter CFB Hall of Fame". NCAA. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  21. ^ Ashland University 2023, pp. 28-29
  22. ^ Phillips, Larry (July 26, 1991). "Going for gold". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. pp. 1-C, 4-C.
  23. ^ Stevens, James (March 22, 1992). "Miley shines for AU". The Marion Star. p. 3B.
  24. ^ Harmer, Andrew (January 9, 2016). "Bill Royce becomes first Ashland University player to make Hall of Fame". Times-Gazette. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  25. ^ "Eagle Crusher Co. appoints new territory manager". Gallon Inquirer. May 29, 2003. p. 5A.
  26. ^ "Royce Named Eagle Crusher Territory Manager". Recycling Today. July 2003. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  27. ^ Lloyd, Zack (April 2010). "Taking Down the Brick Wall". Recycling Today. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  28. ^ CDR Staff (November 21, 2011). "KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens Adds to Sales Staff". Construction & Demolition Recycling.
  29. ^ Yank, Kevin (October 19, 2012). "Supplier expects equipment sales to increase in 2014, 2015". Pit&Quarry. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  30. ^ Yank, Kevin (September 17, 2018). "Equipment buying trends upwards". Pit&Quarry. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  31. ^ Buettner, Mike (October 12, 2020). "Bill Royce's career, legacy stand tall in Ashland University football's 100-year history". Ashland Times-Gazette. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  32. ^ P&Q Staff (July 17, 2023). "Quarry Faces: July 2023". Pit&Quarry. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  33. ^ "Honor Teams". The Indianapolis Star. December 3, 1991. p. D-4.
  34. ^ "AU football awards". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. December 4, 1991. p. 3-C.
  35. ^ "Royce, Martinelli honored". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. November 24, 1993. p. 4-B.
  36. ^ "Texans named among Hill finalists". The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise. Associated Press. November 5, 1992. p. 6.
  37. ^ "Ashland's Royce is Harlon Hill candidate". The Akron Beacon Journal. November 5, 1993. p. B4.
  38. ^ "Mount Union duo on AP All-America". The Beacon Journal. Associated Press. December 18, 1992. p. B5.
  39. ^ Warner, Rick (December 17, 1993). "UNA back named Little All-America". The Anniston Star. Associated Press. p. 7B.
  40. ^ Lewis, Harold (April 1, 1992). "AU track and field team boasts All-American talent". News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. p. sec. Ashland Journal p. 8.
  41. ^ "Ashland University Hall of Famers" (PDF). Ashland University Eagles. August 31, 2021. p. 4. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
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