William Robert Roy
Politician. Democrat. Born: February 23, 1926, Bloomington, Illinois. Served in U.S. House of Representatives, 2nd District: January 3, 1971, to January 3, 1975.
Born in Bloomington, McLean, Illinois, on February 23, 1926, Bill Roy attended public school in Lexington, Illinois, before entering Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1945. Subsequently he earned a B.M. (1948) and a M.D. (1949) at the Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago; in 1970 he received a J.D. from Topeka's Washburn University Law School. Dr. Roy also served in the United States Air Force, 1953-1955, and practiced medicine in Topeka from 1955-1970. Congressman Roy served two terms in the House of Representative (January 3, 1971-January 3, 1975), where he took a special interest in health care issues, but did not seek reelection in 1974; instead, he unsuccessfully sought election to the United States Senate in 1974 and again in 1978. Dr. Roy resumed his medical practice in Topeka following his congressional service, but remained active politically, serving as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1976 and 1984.
Entry: Roy, William Robert
Author: Kansas Historical Society
Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history.
Date Created: June 2011
Date Modified: May 2012
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