Royal Everill was born on October 3, 1904, in Monroe, Wisconsin, the son of Charles and Laura Roberts Everill. He grew up in Monroe and attended school, graduating from Albany High School in 1921. He earned his B.A. degree from the State University of Iowa and his master’s degree from the same school. He also attended the University of Wisconsin, Northwestern University, the University of Chicago and the University of Colorado.

Mr. Everill began his teaching career at Roosevelt Junior High School where he taught social studies for seventeen years. He served Lincoln Junior High School as principal for seven years and became Beloit Memorial High School principal in 1949.

Total dedication to his work and an abiding concern for students and teachers set Royal B. Everill apart as an uncommonly fine educator. Probably more than any other single person in Beloit’s history, he maintained a rapport with and a devotion to this community’s young people as a classroom teacher, junior high school principal and principal of Beloit Memorial High School over a period of 44 years.

He was granted the Distinguished Administrator’s Award in 1968 from the University of Wisconsin School of Journalism, highlighting his interest in the publications field. He was a member of the National College Entrance Examining Board, the High School Education Committee of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and a member of the Advisory Committee on Mental Health of the Wisconsin State Superintendent of Schools. He was a member of Phi Delta Kappa.

He was also one of the organizers of the Beloit Teacher’s Credit Union, serving both as its treasurer and president. Interested in athletics, he served as president of the Big Eight Athletic Association. He was also a member of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences and Letters, as well as many local, state and educational associations.

In the community, he was a member of the Beloit Civic Theater, Beloit Historical Society, Chess, Rotary and Men’s Garden Clubs, the Izaak Walton League and Dalton Club Board of Directors. He was a member of the First Congregational Church and served as moderator, deacon and trustee.

An active Mason, Mr. Everill served in leadership positions in all of the Beloit orders, was an organizer of the Masonic Bulletin, which he edited, and was a member of the committee which planned the rebuilding of the present Masonic Temple.

He co-authored a textbook on woodworking and was a contributing author to the bulletin of the Wisconsin Association of Secondary Principals.

A former administrative colleague said of him: “To him, each young person was regarded as an individual with a potential. Unceasingly, he sought to encourage students to work up to their capacity…to make the most of their opportunities. He had an unfailing optimism and no matter how great the frustrations and obstacles, his belief in young people was unshaken.”

Royal Everill was one of those people who, while totally dedicated to his work, found time and energy for his church, community and family. He was an individual whose life and work were shining examples of goodness, service and brotherhood.