Roy won track letters in 1939, 1940 and 1941 and won Big Ten indoor championships in the 440 in 1940 and 1941, the low hurdles outdoor title in 1939 and the 440 outdoor title in 1941. He was an All-American and a member of the 1940 Olympic team which did not compete because of the war. Roy was a member of 1948 Olympic team and became Indiana's first individual Olympic champion by winning the 400 meter hurdles in record time. Roy won a gold medal as a member of the 1,600 meter relay team and was inducted into the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1975. Roy passed away in 1981.
