in 1942, during world war ii, royal finished hollis high school, where he had played football. he joined the united states army air corps, where he played football for the 3rd air force team during 1945 and was spotted and recruited by scouts for the university of oklahoma sooners football program. he played quarterback and defensive back at the university of oklahoma under his mentor, coach bud wilkinson, from 1946 to 1949. while attending oklahoma, he joined the delta upsilon fraternity.