Mr. Royal was the Principal at Clear Lake Elementary in the Late 1970s while I was a student/trouble maker and frequent occupier of his big yellow chair in his office. A Jamaican kid in a prodominently white school has a hard time in the late 70s. Mr. Royal understood that challenge and protected me and my siblings as best he could against the ignorance of that time. I am forever thankful for his interventions, guidance, time outs in the chair, and whitty sarcastic humor about my unique approach to combatting racism. He labeled me as a fighter but a good one and advised me to never give up. His obituary is correct, he is a great man and he should be emulated, remembered and talked about. I am so pleased there is a park I can visit dedicated to him. My condolences to his Family, Friends and to Humanity.

Travis

To the Royal family,
Our deepest concolences. We moved to CLC in the cold Jan. of 1966. Halfway through a school year was scary for a 2nd and 3rd grader as myself and older brother were at the time. Mr. Royal learned our names from day one and never forgot to call to us by name. I think he knew every student's name and family. He was terrific at remembering names. He was engaging with the many activities at CLC elementary. I have fond memories of "Go Texan" and "fair" days. He put so much energy into the end of the year field days, and the bicycle awareness days. We as a family still talk about Mr. Royal today--40+ years ago. God Bless you Mr. Royal and God Bless your family.

The Byers Family

Mr.Royal will be very missed. My prayers and thoughts are with the family.

I worked for Kenneth Royal for sixteen years at Clear Lake City Elementary.  During that time I considered him a friend and supporter.  He always had a smile and a word of encouragement.  Although he had an MBA, the school was more family oriented and less business oriented. He loved the students and worked hard to make sure the school environment was conducive to their development.  He helped me succeed in my teaching career and was a wonderful role model as a caring and giving individual. What an amazing man, he will be missed.

Mr. Royal...the man who came to my house every Christmas Eve dressed as Santa...and then danced with me at my wedding many years later will be terribly missed.  He was more than just my former principal...he was family.

Jeannie and family, Mr. Royal will be missed tremendsouly.  Both at church and around the community.  Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.

My thoughts and prayers for Mr. Royal's family. I remember him from the Seabrook Volunteer Fire Department when I volunteered with the Clear Lake Emergency Medical Corps. I remember Mrs. Royal running a very tight ship as the librarian at Seabrook Elementary.

Today, we celebrated his memory, let us also make a resolution and commitment to one another and ourselves: Let us pause and pay tribute to everything he stood for and hold him up as an example and commit how we should live our own lives with integrity, compassion, sacrifice, valor, courage and love.

Kenneth hired me sight unseen in May of 1966.  I still remember speaking to him from a phone booth in my dorm.(I know many will not even know what that is)  What a wonderful man and boss. I had a great time at Clear Lake City Elementary for the four years I taught there. He taught me so much and was so kind.  I will miss him. My prayers go out to his family.

I had the privilege of being in the first 5th grade class the first year Mr. Royal came to Seabrook.  He was a wonderful teacher!  I also had the honor of attending the same church until I married & moved away.  He was truly a great person who always willingly served when needed.  God bless him & his family.

Mr. Royal taught me in 5th grade at what would become Bay Elementary.
This would be about 1953. 
As an adult I was fortunate to be able to introduce him and Alice to my husband. Everyone loved Mr. Royal!

Mr. Royal was the principal of Clear Lake Elementary School when I was a student there. He was a great guy and he always treated everyone with respect. My mother was also a teacher at Clear Lake Elementary at this time (and for many years after I moved onto Intermediate School) and she always talked about how great of a guy he is. You will be missed Kenneth Royal.

Mr. Royal hired me to teach 5th grade at Clear Lake Elementary back in 1988, which began my wonderful connection with the CLCE family. His belief in doing what was right and best for the children showed itself all over the school. The community and the school are better for having had Mr. Royal.

I started kindergarten at CLCE in 1967 with Mr. Royal as Principal. To a young boy, he looked to be eight feet tall but was basically a gentle giant. He just had the respect of students, teachers and the parents for his skills in dealing with people and  running a school as smoothly as he did. Doubt anyone will ever find anybody with anything negative to say about this outstanding man. The world is a little bleaker today with his passing.

I was in the third grade when I first met the Royals. They both in turn taught me in the fourth and fifth grades.  They were stricket but fare teachers.  About10 years ago I went back to visit them and found both of them to be delightful people.     Lynn Larrabee Hamilton

Mr.Royal, you were a very special person to me. You hired me to teach at CLCE! I remember that you even spent an evening painting my new classroom for me and the students!!! You were an awesome person to know and work for. You will be missed very much!!!!!!

I am so saddened to hear of Mr. Royal's death.  I worked as a classroom teacher and as a remedial reading teacher for several years at Clear Lake City Elementary.  Ken always found time to talk to me if I had requests or concerns, even when I know he was "snowed under" with all his administrative duties.  His sense of humor always helped me make light of things that sometimes seemed very serious - including when I, dressed in white pants, fell into newly poured cement steps in front of my portable building!  I was expecting more consolation from him when I asked for permission to go home and change my clothes and was a little peeved when he started laughing hysterically.  Finally I had to join in with him - I'm sure I was quite a sight!
Mr. Royal loved the students, teachers and parents.   He worked tirelessly to make our school the best it could be.  I truly have missed him since I have moved to WA State.  Our world has lost a great educator - but rest assured, he will never be forgotten!

So sorry to hear about Mr. Royal.  He was my Clear Lake Elementary Principal in the 80s.  I use to love it when he would play the "Houston Oilers" song after a win.  It felt so fun that the head of the school would do something so neat over the intercom.  I have no doubt that he touched the lives of many children and we are all better people for it.

Thank you Kenneth for serving our country and being a true American hero.  I appreciate your sacrifice.  May you rest in peace and God comfort the family and friends during this time of sorrow.

You need only to read all of the glowing confirmations here to know that Kenneth Royal was not the average man. I have seen Ken in action and known him for the past 10 years that we have been  members of Seabrook United Methodist Church. Many have known him longer , but you really need to have only to have known him a short while to see his true character. ALWAYS smiling, friendly, and helping. What he has accomplished in his career choices and life speaks volumes to his spirit and nature of this "service to others" oriented man. Kenneth Royal is without a doubt a good and faithful servant of Jesus Christ. We wish you well on your next life adventure Ken! You will be greatly missed here. We pray God's peace upon your family in this time of their great loss, and that their special  memories of you comfort them.

You were my most inspirational person in elementary school.  Your ethics are something I still cherish today and choose to follow quite closely.  Thanks for the greatness!

My wonderful memory of Mr. Royal is one day in fifth grade (1985) when I forgot my seizure medication before going to school (Clear Lake City Elementary). As no one was home to deliver it to school, Mr. Royal, the head honcho, drove me to my house so I could pick it up. At age ten I felt so humbled yet so important that he would do such a thing for me. That is a real principal and a real human. I will keep that memory forever. 
(Kris L. Norbraten, Boulder, CO)

We will miss you Mr. Royal. You were a great friend to our family in school and out. 
-The Meyn Family

From a CLCE alumnus (1979-1982), my condolences to the friends and family of this superlative educator. Just know that he positively impacted the lives of thousands and thousands of young students.

Where do I start?  Mr. Royal was my principal when I was in 6th grade in 1966.  I tutored at CLCE in my senior year in High School (1972-1973), and was hired to teach at CLCE in 1977.  I taught under him for nine years, then moved on.  My wife has been teaching at CLCE since 1981, and all four of my children attend school there.  I always get a very good feeling when I see the Kenneth Royal Library at CLCE, and when I am in Seabrook and pass Kenneth Royal Drive.
He loved children, and would do anything to help anyone that needed help.  
He inspired me to be a better man.

Kenneth Royal played multiple roles in my life. When my family came to Seabrook, Mr. Royal was my fifth grade teacher and the first man teacher that I had. It was a unique classroom experience in that when the Seabrook Fire Alarm sounded, Mr. Royal left the building, raced down the street and manned a fire engine. He was involved with MYF and VBS at the Seabrook Methodist Church and supervised many activities. His son, Kenny, was the same age as I was and we were friends throughout his life. The Royal family were patrons of my parents' business and we all lived in the same neighborhood. The largest and most influential role Mr. Royal played in my life was as my  first boss" or principal at Clear Lake City Elementary. As a principal, he helped shape professional techniques and behaviors and provided the guidance needed for beginning teachers.  He had a profound influence on the lives of many.

We were so saddened by the passing of Ken.  My husband and I knew Ken from the Seabrook Fire Dept.  Ken would sure let you know if something was not right.  He was all for training and education.  May you RIP Ken.  Prayers are with the Royal family.

Mrs. Royal - It was an honor to assist your family during this very difficult time.  Mr. Royal accomplished so many things. I have no doubt he will be dearly missed by everyone. I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,

Teresa Morant
Forest Park East

Kenneth Royal, a wonderful, caring person. As a boss he always made you want to do your best and then some.  He always allowed you to be as creative as you wanted to be if he could see that the students would benefit.  He was an honorable man that cared for his students and teachers. Knowing that my family was far from Texas, he and Alice made sure they were present when my first born arrived into this world.  There was flooding all around and late at night, but they were there. We will miss him. Charlotte Hartley

Mr. Royal came to teach @ Bay when I was in the 5th grade.  A wonderful mentor & teacher in a gentler time. I'll long remember his encouraging ways.
Virginia Wright Hahn

My brother Frank and I were educated by Kenneth Royal in school and in scouts as our teacher and scout master. When I notified my brother of Mr. Royal's passing, he said, "Our honorary, honorable Surrogate Father."

I was just in the 2nd grade when he left, but I have fond memories of him playing the Houston Oiler's fight song every time they won.  I'm thankful he was my principal.

Kennneth Royal, a true giant and icon in the Clear Creek ISD, was also a warm, friendly, and gracious man. We will miss him and send our love to his family. Claudia and Ralph Parr

We'll always remember Mr. Royal, a long-time educator in Seabrook/Clear Lake. When Mr. Bay was principal in Seabrook, he taught PE there. When Clear Lake Elementary was built, he served there many years. Later he came back to Seabrook, now Bay Elementary, and retired from there. The road in front of the school is named for him. He became one of those "from Seabrook" who raised his children there, went to church there and even owned a home in Miramar adjacent to school property. 

His kids were our friends. His peers, my Dad and his confederates. He was a leader and mentor. He is gone. We are less. 

We must become more in memory and appreciation of those who go before, in the need of those who follow behind.

Bill and Carole, though I haven't seen you in years, I grieve with you at this separation from your father. Steve and I are praying for you.

OBITUARY

Kenneth W Royal

Born AUGUST 6, 1926

Forest Park East Funeral Home & Cemetery

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