The Man Behind the Name

Melvin Roy, the man, was born Feb 7, 1955. Melvin Roy, the Trucker Hat Brand has arrived on February 7, 2025!

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The Man Behind the Name

Melvin Roy Hartke was born on February 7, 1955, the fourth of six children raised on his family’s farm. Hard work and a love for the land defined his life, as he spent his days tending to cattle, hogs, chickens, and crops. He had a special way with animals—his deep understanding of them was almost instinctual.

A standout athlete at Dieterich High School, Mel excelled as a left-handed pitcher and basketball player. It was during those years that he met Pat, his high school sweetheart from a rival school just eight miles away. They married in 1974 and started their life together on the family farm, celebrating their honeymoon with an adventurous road trip to New Orleans.

Their children, Courtney and Caleb, were the greatest joys of Mel’s life. Baseball was his favorite sport, and he made sure they could catch a pop fly without fail—sometimes making them catch 100 in a row. He was also the heart of the family kitchen, cooking buffet-style dinners most nights, offering multiple entrees just to make sure everyone had their favorite.

Mel loved the outdoors—hunting in the woods, fishing on the farm pond, and sitting on the front porch, taking in the simple beauty of life. He never met a stranger and had an effortless way of making people feel at ease. His easygoing nature and quick wit made him someone people gravitated toward.

But like many, Mel battled addiction, a disease that carries deep challenges and stigma. Despite multiple attempts at recovery, alcoholism ultimately took him from us too soon at the age of 39. The heartache of his loss remains, but so do the countless memories that remind us of who he truly was—a man full of love, laughter, and kindness.

After his passing, many of Mel’s friends and family sent letters to Courtney, sharing their favorite memories of him. Those stories, along with cherished photos, became a book—one that now serves as inspiration for the Melvin Roy brand. Every patch tells a piece of his story, ensuring that his legacy lives on.

A Few Things to Know About Mel

He loved dually trucks—much to Courtney’s embarrassment, as she often asked him to drop her off a block away from school.
In high school, he worked at Schultz Seed Company, the only seed business in their small town.
He shared a birthday with his godson, Steve.
The Fourth of July was his favorite holiday, and his fireworks displays were just as impressive as the town’s.
His signature style? Cowboy boots, dark-wash denim, pearl-snap western shirts, and baseball hats.
His high school nickname was “Jock.”
His favorite restaurant was the Green Lantern.
His go-to bands? The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Janis Joplin.

Friends often called him “one of the good ones.”
He had a knack for finding morel mushrooms, frying them up as a treat for Courtney and Caleb.
He and his brother Dennis remodeled the farmhouse—though Mel wasn’t much of a carpenter. After hitting his thumb six times with his hammer, “Old Blue,” he chucked it into a field. Dennis retrieved it, and the hammer still exists today.
He always greeted Courtney with a warm, “Well, hello, squirt!”
His favorite team was the St. Louis Cardinals, and the family still cheers for them today.

Though Mel left us far too soon, his spirit lives on—through the stories we tell, the love we share, and the lessons he left behind. He watches over us like a hawk, forever a part of our lives.

The Man Behind the Name

A Few Things to Know About Mel

Welcome to Melvin Roy!