WVUA anchor Jack Royer just started his career, but he’s already in the record books in Alabama. According to Alabama Newscenter, the 20-year-old is the youngest person ever to sit in an anchor chair in the state.
His father, Mike Royer is the managing editor at the Tuscaloosa station, but Royer says he didn’t get his job because of his dad.
Mike Royer, who started at WVUA this year, has been in the business for 40 years and last worked at WBRC in Birmingham. His son started working at WVUA in June 2015.
WVUA is commercial station operated by the University of Alabama in the College of Communication and Information Sciences.
“My dad never made a phone call for me,” said Jack Royer. “I was almost obnoxious about him not doing that. I’ve tried to get jobs and keep jobs based on my work.”
Interestingly, a year after his son began working for WVUA, the older Royer joined WVUA as managing editor.
Jack Royer, who did TV and radio work throughout his years at Mountain Brook High School, said his dad had nothing to do with the hiring process for the 10 p.m. anchor. He chalks it up to hard work.
“I’ve always naturally wanted to be and found ways to be the guy who is always at work,” Royer says. “I should have a cot here.”