Daggett Orman Royals

Dr. Daggett O. Royals, “Dag”, beloved husband of Eleanor Elizabeth Dunn, passed away on December 16, 2018, on his 92nd birthday. He was born in Conway, SC to the late John Daggett Royals and Frosty Ann Vereen.

Surviving in addition to his loving wife of 67 years, Eleanor, are children, Charles Douglas Royals and Carol Elizabeth Royals.

Dr. Royals is predeceased by his son, Nelson Craig Royals; and his eight brothers and sisters: Joseph DeWitt Royals, John Nolan Royals, Samuel Thomas Royals, Woodrow Wilson Royals, Nancy Rebecca Royals Armstrong, Benjamin Franklin Royals, Frostie Ann Royals Scarboro, and Mary Louise Royals Weatherford-Whittington.

Dr. Royals was an accomplished orthopaedic surgeon and devoted family man. He married the love of his life, Eleanor, in 1951 and together they had three children. He was a man of great faith, integrity and moral character. He was a man who loved his family, friends, and had a love for others. He had a boundless kindness and consideration for others. He always had a determination to do the right thing and do it to the best of his ability.

He was paramount in the education of fellow residents and physicians in the local Greenville community, co-creating the orthopaedic residency program at Greenville Memorial Hospital and mentoring colleagues throughout his career. He was also an avid golfer who was a member of the Good Ol’ Boys Golf Club at Greenville Country Club and played at the Furman LPGA Pro-Am every year.

Dr. Royals served in WWII as a medical officer in the Navy. He graduated from Clemson University in 1949 and received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1955, and in 1955-56 served his Internship at Greenville General Hospital. He completed his Orthopaedic Residency in the mid 1960’s at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL. After completing a hand fellowship in San Francisco, he was honored as a Bunnell Fellowship recipient from the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. He was board certified by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in 1969.

In 1968, Dr. Royals was a charter member of Piedmont Orthopaedic Clinic, a private practice in Greenville. During his years as an orthopaedic surgeon, he was an active staff member with Greenville Hospital System for 28 years, an Associate Surgeon for Shriners Hospitals for Children, and a member of the Division of Orthopaedics at Saint Francis Hospital. He served as President of the Medical Staff for the Greenville Hospital System (1981), Chairman of the Medical staff Planning and Building Committee for Greenville Hospital System (1977-79), Chairman of the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery for the Greenville Hospital System (1974-77), President of the Greenville County Medical Society (1984), South Carolina Medical Association Insurance Committee member (1976- Chairman, 1977 -1978), S.C.Medical Association, Committee Cooperative Activities member-1972-(Chairman 1973-1975), President of the South Carolina Orthopaedic Association (1978-79), Secretary-Treasurer, of the South Carolina Orthopaedic Association, (1976-1978) Served on the Board of Councilors for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (1984-1990), on the Credentials Committee of the American College of Surgeons (1983-1989), President of the Bunnell Hand Surgery Club (1983), Charter Member of the Mayo Clinic Mark B. Coventry Orthopaedic Travel Club and a Charter member of the Clemson Alumni Physician Society (CAPS) (1982).

Dr. Royals was a member of the Greenville County Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the South Carolina Medical Association, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the South Carolina Orthopaedic Association, the Pan Pacific Surgical Association, the American College of Surgeons, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the Eastern Orthopaedic Association, the Southern Medical Association, the Mark B. Coventry Orthopaedic Travel Club at the Mayo Clinic, and a Fellow of the Bunnell Hand Surgery Club.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 29th at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary at St. Matthew United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1:00 – 1:45 p.m., and entombment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park.

The family respectfully requests donations to St. Matthew United Methodist Church, 701 Cleveland St, Greenville, SC 29601.

A message of condolence may be expressed at MackeyMortuary.com.