Construction exec Ron Royal dies

Construction executive Jack Cox approached Ron Royal at an Argus Foundation event in fall 2014, minutes before Royal received the organization's most prestigious honor — its lifetime achievement award.

“I told him congratulations, and that I was so happy for him,” says Cox, president of Sarasota-based Halfacre Construction, who first met Royal in 1982. “And he looked right at me and immediately said, 'You'll be here one day, Jack.' He spun it on me, not on himself.”

That was classic Royal, say several friends and colleagues. They describe Royal as selfless gentleman, who lived large and gave, of his time and money, even larger. Royal died Nov. 26 after an illness, surrounded by family. He was 85.