Roy Byrd was born on a military base in Germany in 1970, the son of a US Army Commander. A year later, the family relocated to California and set up home in Oakland California.

Roy's spirit for life can be traced to the streets of Oakland and the melting pot known as the "Bay Area". In elementary school, Roy was the "class clown" but also one who stood up to the bullies when needed and correcting things on the playground when they were not right. A standout athlete in High School, Roy found one if his life's loves as a member of the famed McClymonds High School Varsity Basketball Team. The Warriors would go onto dominate their conference and Roy's talents were a key reason the team won numerous championships.

Life's road often leads in many directions and in the spring of 1994, Roy became the proud father of daughter Alegre Rain. With scholarship offers on the table to play college basketball, Roy instead chose to be a responsible father taking a job with Waste Management in Berkeley and yes - driving a Garbage Truck. The early morning shifts were a grind and at times humiliating, but Roy kept his focus on the family and making himself stronger and better by the day.