1 of 5
Erica Techo
Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon
Mike Royer speaks at the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
2 of 5
Erica Techo
Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon
Donna Speir, Judeth Thomas, Rebecca Moul, M.D. and Amanda Mundy at the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
3 of 5
Erica Techo
Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon
Billy Joe Watson, Cindy Hartman, Jared Yarchak and Marlene Paumen at the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
4 of 5
Erica Techo
Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon
Larry Allred, Pam Thompson and Janet Turner at the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
5 of 5
Erica Techo
Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon
Councilman John Lyda and Janet Turner at the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
In 40 years of broadcast, Mike Royer has seen, done and covered a little bit of everything.
At the Aug. 20 Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, Royer discussed the highlights of his career and the lessons he has learned.
From a young age, Royer said he was hooked on television - he grew up on it. His first step in broadcasting, however, wasn’t until college when he stopped by his school’s radio station.
“I wandered in there and never left. I never went to law school, and I got hooked on broadcast,” Royer said.
Throughout his career, Royer flew into a hurricane and flew an airplane through a cloud. He was also able to interview several people, including former president Jimmy Carter.
“I wouldn’t take anything for the people I’ve met,” Royer said.
Aside from the household names he was able to talk with, Royer said the people who affected him the most were the everyday interviews. For 20 years, Royer produced the “Spirit of Alabama,” which he said allowed him the chance to interview real people and truly be affected by their stories. These features are disappearing from T.V. news, Royer said, to make way for reports on murder, exaggerated weather forecasts and health news.
“I think we miss something when we don’t tell good stories about good people,” Royer said.
Those who came in his path through Spirit of Alabama helped change his perspective, Royer said. He met Lou Wheeler during a story about Campus Outreach and the two quickly became friends. Wheeler was diagnosed with cancer, and over time the diagnosis went from a cancer that seemed easily treatable to something that was untreatable.
The last time Royer talked with Wheeler, Wheeler said to move from success to significance, to move toward making an impact on the world.
“There’s a big difference between success and significance, and I believe in both,” Royer said. “And Lou Wheeler reminded me of the latter. I think we need stories on T.V. like that.”
Another man, Dr. Jim Collier, taught Royer that everyone has the same fate. During an interview, while Collier was dying from cancer, Royer said he thought he had the perfect final question – What’s your prognosis? What he didn’t expect was Collier’s answer.
“His eyes locked on mine and he said, ‘My prognosis is exactly the same as yours,’” Royer said.
At the time, Royer thought he couldn’t have the same prognosis as a man who was fighting cancer, but over time he has accepted the truth in his statement. Living with that prognosis means living to make each day and each moment special.
“When you know your prognosis, you begin to look at things a little bit differently as to how you carry yourself, and you think about if what you’re doing is all about success or maybe if it has a little to do with being significant,” Royer said.
The next Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon is Sept. 17. Networking starts at 11:15 a.m., and lunch is served at noon.
