By: Shelley McKinley
This writer mistakenly referred to Mr. Roy Dean Moore as Mr. Morris. Sincere apologies are expressed to Mr. Roy Dean Moore for this error. Reflecting over his life, “Vietnam was all combat. I was so frightened and my only thought was about getting back home to my mom. I promised the Lord that if I made it back home and to Mom, I would never go to bed without doing something for someone each day. From 1965 to this day, I’ve never broken that promise,” said Moore.
Roy Dean Moore returned to Houston with a leader’s mentality. “Somewhere along the way, I got vision. As the Bible says, where there is no vision, the people will perish,” said Moore. His vision prompted him to establish businesses such as Phillip 66 in Fifth Ward, Exxon in Kashmere Gardens, and Triple M Transfer Company. He also invested in real estate, and founded Real Options for Youth (ROY Inc.). In his role as the Executive Director of Community Engagement for Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority (MHMRA), he submitted a proposal to become a master trainer on Prevention and Management of Aggressive Behavior (PMAB) and trained various audiences ranging from jailers to group home staff throughout Texas on PMAB.
Staying true to the promise he made all those years ago, Moore continues to pour into the Third Ward, Fifth Ward, and Sunnyside communities, as well as Milam County, Dallas, and Springhill, La. Recently he underwrote Kashmere High School’s Career Day and purchased tennis shoes for the school’s athletics department. He adopts families and churches at various times throughout the year, and hosts Dinner with Dean on Christmas Day so that nobody has to spend Christmas alone. Beyond these efforts, Moore makes sure to stay in touch with people who have impacted his life positively. He still talks weekly with Mrs. Bertha Dorian, the wife of his mentor, and maintains relationships with children of deceased friends and colleagues. He mentors his Godchildren and has words of wisdom for those interested in learning.
