He comes from a background of politics and arts, which seems to make him the perfect person for the role of the new Hope Visitor Center and Museum director.
Guy Royston, 26, is the son of Grandison Royston and Judy and Jim Gunter and is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University. He majored in political science and history.
Royston said he was interested in the job at the depot mostly due to his interest in former President Bill Clinton.
“He is one of our hometown boys that has reached those heights,” he said. He spent time talking in depth about his interest in Clinton.
“He was my favorite politician until I became interested in Dale Bumpers. He and Clinton are just great. This is a job where people come in and they want to see about Clinton,” he said.
Royston graduated from college in 2005 and has since spent time doing social work for the Arkansas Counseling Associates and for Arkansas Secretary of State Charlie Daniels. He said he also “tried his hand at insurance,” but decided that was not for him.
Royston said the accomplishments he is most proud of to this point in his life are three trips to Washington D.C.
He was able to make the trip the first time on a Boy Scout outing. His next opportunity was after winning an essay contest through Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.
His third time was part of college credit with his internship with U. S. Senator Blanche Lincoln, D-Ar., and Congressman Mike Ross, D-Ar.
Royston said he was not only interested in politics due to his family history; his step-father is Arkansas Supreme Justice Jim Gunter.
He also spoke avidly of his own father’s esteem in the community. Royston senior is currently working as the Arts Director at an elementary school in Clarksville, after spending many years as Gifted and Talented instructor at the Prescott schools.
“I have to say though it was more my own initiative. I remember my first presidential election in 1988. I was, like, six. I remember being really passionate about it,” Royston said.
He was referring to the campaign between George H. W. Bush and Michael Dukakis.
Royston wants to work closely with the President Bill Clinton First Home Museum to enhance both tourist centers.
He confesses has also been called “Little Mike Ross.”
“I got teased about it all the time when I interned in DC,” Royston said, but quickly changed the subject. During my internship with Blanche Lincoln I think he was at a function we had gone to, or someone saw a picture, and they looked at me and were like ‘Mike Ross, Mike Ross’. I still hear it every now and then and it doesn’t bother me,” he said.
He said plans to begin with at the depot are “inventory, inventory, inventory.” Today, he was entertaining a group of students from Beryl Henry Elementary School with a tour of the station. He even dressed the part wearing a “seersucker suit, a historical southern tradition,” as part of the tour.
