Ray Roy
Born in 1931, Ray Roy is the younger brother of Alvin Roy, the world-famous strength and conditioning trainer and founder of Alvin Roy’s Gym. The gym, once located on Oklahoma Street in South Baton Rouge, grew in popularity when Alvin started a weight training program for the Istrouma High School football team, including player Billy Cannon. Ray Roy started working with his brother at the gym in 1954 after returning from service in the Korean War and continued working there until the late 1970s.
Roy’s Gym was frequented by LSU football players and Alvin’s Saturday morning television show, Future Champions, featured Billy Cannon, Johnny Robinson, and many other athletes. After great success locally, Alvin went on to work as a trainer with multiple NFL teams. He is credited as a pioneer of weight training programs for professional sports teams.
Alvin Roy passed away in 1979. Ray Roy is still living in Baton Rouge.
Roy’s interview is housed in the T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History at LSU Libraries Special Collections. Roy, Ray, interview by Petra Munro Hendry, audio recording, 2005, 4700.1743. Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.