Troy University is remembering the service and commitment of longtime Trustee Roy Drinkard, who passed away on Sunday, Aug. 23, at the age of 106.
A World War II veteran, Drinkard was the oldest living United States Marine.
In April 2000, at almost 80 years old, Drinkard was appointed to the Troy University Board of Trustees by then-Governor Don Siegelman. He was reappointed twice, most recently in 2020 by Gov. Kay Ivey.
Drinkard provided leadership during several monumental moments in the university’s history, including the merger of the worldwide Troy State University System into the unified Troy University, an initiative called One Great University and the launch of the university’s first doctoral degrees. In 2014, Troy University presented Drinkard with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during its summer commencement ceremony on the Troy Campus.
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“Mr. Roy was a proud Marine and an inspiration to all who knew him—devoted to his family, his faith and the preservation of freedom,” said Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor of Troy University. “As a World War II veteran and America’s oldest living Marine, he embodied the truth that freedom is not free. As a beloved member of the Troy University Board of Trustees, his leadership was instrumental in the growth and development of this institution. He will forever hold a special place in the hearts of all Trojans. May our dear friend rest in peace.”
Gibson Vance, President Pro-Tem of the Troy University Board of Trustees, said Drinkard’s leadership as a board member has had lasting impact for the university and its students.
“Roy Drinkard was a remarkable man and a valued member of the Troy University Board of Trustees for more than 25 years,” Vance said. “He loved this university, and the leadership he provided has had a significant impact on TROY and its students. Roy was a true Trojan in every sense of the word, and he will be greatly missed.”
Born in Falkville, Alabama, on July 12, 1920, Drinkard attended St. Bernard Preparatory School in Cullman before joining the United States Marine Corps and serving in World War II under General Eisenhower.
After returning from the war, Drinkard operated a funeral home in Guntersville, Alabama, for several years before returning to Cullman to launch Drinkard Chevrolet. Over the next 50 years, he integrated himself into every aspect of life in Cullman: becoming a part of the “Flying 50s,” a group of civic leaders who recruited industry to the town and revitalized the local economy post-war; chaired Cullman’s Industrial Development Board for nearly 30 years; founded Drinkard Development, a major Southeast real estate firm managing shopping centers, theaters, medical complexes, apartments and more; donated land for educational facilities for Cullman County Schools; and raised thousands of dollars for college scholarships.
In 2019, The Cullman Times recognized Drinkard as their Distinguished Citizen of the Century. In 2025, Drinkard was honored during the Youth Leadership Development Program’s annual Lunch with Heroes, receiving the Great American Hero Award and the Dr. Jack Hawkins Lifetime Achievement Award.
TROY Trustee and the oldest living Marine Roy Drinkard led the procession of Marine veterans, along with Chancellor Jack Hawkins, Jr. and Dr. John Schmidt, during the university’s military appreciation football game in 2022. He was also pictured with Trustees Earl Johnson and Gerald Dial during a commencement ceremony in Trojan Arena.
