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Theriot (pronounced TERRY OH) was born in Erath in Vermilion Parish, twenty-six miles south of the larger [[Lafayette]],  to Joseph "Lastie" Theriot (1879-1966) Theriot and the former Emerite Barras (pronounced BAH RA) (1886-1981). He was educated in Erath public schools, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (at the time Southwestern Louisiana Institute) and the [[Tulane University]] Law School in [[New Orleans]]. On June 7, 1939, he began his law practice and soon took a role in civic affairs and organized the Abbeville Dairy Festival, first held in September 1949. In 1979,<ref name=lahist>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-t/|title=Theriot Roy|publisher=''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'': Louisiana Historical Association|accessdate=June 2, 2020}}</ref> the festival was renamed the Louisiana Cattle Festival.<ref name=scholarship/>

Theriot (pronounced TERRY OH) was born in Erath in Vermilion Parish, twenty-six miles south of the larger [[Lafayette]],  to Joseph "Lastie" Theriot (1879-1966) Theriot and the former Emerite Barras (pronounced BAH RA) (1886-1981). He was educated in Erath public schools, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (at the time Southwestern Louisiana Institute) and the [[Tulane University]] Law School in [[New Orleans]]. On June 7, 1939, he began his law practice and soon took a role in civic affairs and organized the Abbeville Dairy Festival, first held in September 1949. In 1979,<ref name=lahist>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-t/|title=Theriot Roy|publisher=''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'': Louisiana Historical Association|accessdate=June 2, 2020}}</ref> the festival was renamed the Louisiana Cattle Festival.<ref name=scholarship/>

In 1954, Theriot was elected mayor of Abbeville in 1954. Two year later, he invited [[Harold Stassen]], a [[Moderate Republican]] and the former "boy-wonder" [[governor]] of [[Minnesota]], to speak at the festival. Stassen, remembered as a perennial [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate for [[U.S. President]], was so impressed with the festival that he invited the Abbeville High School band to perform at the second inauguration of [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] on January 20, 1957. Theriot later convinced former President [[Harry Truman]] to speak at the event too.<ref name=theriot>"Theriot Charges Louisiana Residents With Lack of Pride in Their State," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' July 21, 1967, p. 1.</ref> At civic meetings, Theriot often chided Louisiana residents for "lacking pride" in their state, a shortcoming which he attributed to the citizens' "lack of knowledge of what the state has to offer."<ref name=theriot/>​

In 1954, Theriot was elected mayor of Abbeville in 1954. Two year later, he invited [[Harold Stassen]], a [[Moderate Republican]] and the former "boy-wonder" [[governor]] of [[Minnesota]], to speak at the festival. Stassen, remembered as a perennial [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate for [[U.S. President]], was so impressed with the festival that he invited the Abbeville High School band to perform at the second inauguration of [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] on January 20, 1957. Theriot later convinced former President [[Harry Truman]] to speak at the event too.<ref name=theriot>"Theriot Charges Louisiana Residents With Lack of Pride in Their State," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' July 21, 1967, p. 1.</ref> At civic meetings, Theriot often chided Louisiana residents for "lacking pride" in their state, a shortcoming which he attributed to the citizens' "lack of knowledge of what the state has to offer."<ref name=theriot/>​ His challenge to Louisiana residents "lacking pride" preceded President [[Jimmy Carter]]'s similar "malaise speech" in 1979.

Theriot organized the Acadian Boucherie Breakfast, which began in January 1960, as a means to preserve [[Cajun]] culture.​<ref name=lahist/> On June 7, 1947, he married the former Helen Roberts (1924–1990). The couple had three children,  Barbara Ellen Theriot (born 1949), Roy R. Theriot, Jr. (born 1952), and Samuel Houston  "Sam" Theriot (born 1954)<ref name=lahist/>, a state representative from 1979 to 1996 and the Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court for a single term from 1996 to 2000.​<ref name=scholarship/>

Theriot organized the Acadian Boucherie Breakfast, which began in January 1960, as a means to preserve [[Cajun]] culture.​<ref name=lahist/> On June 7, 1947, he married the former Helen Roberts (1924–1990). The couple had three children,  Barbara Ellen Theriot (born 1949), Roy R. Theriot, Jr. (born 1952), and Samuel Houston  "Sam" Theriot (born 1954)<ref name=lahist/>, a state representative from 1979 to 1996 and the Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court for a single term from 1996 to 2000.​<ref name=scholarship/>