Roy Shelley

Roy grew up in Columbia and Orangeburg. He graduated from Wade Hampton Academy in 1985, where he played football on the 1984 team that won the State Championship. He then attended Rice University ( where he played what is now "old school' lacrosse) and graduated in 1989 with degrees in Business Management and Psychology. He worked for an oil company in Houston for two years while his future wife, Rebecca Monroy, finished her law degree at the University of Houston. He then returned to South Carolina to attend law school. He graduated from the USC School of Law in 1994.

Roy began his legal career with the Richland County Public Defender Office, then went into private practice. He is now a partner and the head of the litigation department at the Rogers Townsend law firm. His current practice consists mainly of the defense of environmental litigation (property contamination and personal injury toxic exposures), trucking accidents, and other serious personal injury cases. He also taught as an adjunct instructor in criminal law at USC for 14 years.

Roy serves on a number of legal and community boards, including the SC Bar Mock Trial Committee since 1996 and he is currently the Co-chair), SC Fact Forward(a reproductive health non-profit; current co-chair), the Columbia Running Club (current president), the Friends of Harbison State Forest, and others. Roy is also currently president of the Highlander Club at Heathwood.

Roy and Rebecca's three children all attended Heathwood: Rachel '16, Riana '20, and Ryan '22. Roy's hobbies include running(road and trail0, growing oak trees, and playing lacrosse on the Local Masters (i.e. old guys) team.