ROYCE, Stephen W.

ROYCE, Stephen W. (1921-1972), physician and very close friend of Carey Stanton, who committed suicide on August 2, 1972. His death so upset Carey Stanton, it served as the catalyst for Stanton, an alcoholic, to get sober. Royce was 51.

Steve Royce and Carey Stanton traveled to Puerto Vallarta together in late 1959. It was at a bar on the beach that they met Henry Duffield, who was trying to teach himself to walk with heavy steel leg braces after suffering polio. Stanton and Royce, as physicians, convinced Duffield, 38, to go to Warm Springs, Georgia for rehabilitation, which Duffield did. When he was released, he was invited to Santa Cruz Island, where Edwin L. Stanton offered him a job on September 19, 1960 as ranch manager. Duffield stayed for 26 years.

Steve Royce