Roy Lynn Clyburn, Jr., founder and president of Condo-World, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 85 in his beloved home of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. As always, his wife of 64 years, Caroline Miller Clyburn, was by his side. His passing has given us time to reflect on a life that was nothing short of inspiring to all who knew him.
Clyburn’s entrepreneurial spirit could be seen in all his professional accomplishments. Prior to moving to North Myrtle Beach, Roy founded American Display Company in Concord, North Carolina, in 1966, which he grew to become one of the largest point-of-purchase display manufacturers in the country. After selling the business in 1982, Roy took an interest in North Myrtle Beach and purchased his first oceanfront condo.
While visiting North Myrtle Beach one weekend, Roy noticed a woman standing in the parking lot of his condo building, staring up at the 12-story property with an inquisitive look. He asked if he could help her with anything, and she replied, “Yes. I want to know how I can rent one of those condos.” This one statement sparked the idea for a business that would become one of the most widely recognized brands in the vacation rental industry.
On the way home, Roy told his wife Caroline about his idea to open a condo rental agency. There were a few companies that rented beach homes in the area, but none that specialized in condos. Caroline agreed that it sounded like a good idea.
“The name is going to be very important. What should we call it?” Roy asked. Caroline put her book down and replied, “Why don’t you call it Condo-World?” The very next day, Roy registered the name Condo-World with the State of South Carolina, and a new chapter in their life began.
Over the next 36 years, Roy grew the company to become the largest provider of oceanfront vacation rentals in North Myrtle Beach, managing nearly 500 condos. His vision had always been to make Condo-World a household name among the vacationing public.
As the company expanded through the years, Roy’s vision became a reality, attracting millions of guests to stay in Condo-World properties.
In Roy’s own words, “What makes Condo-World special is the employees. The company IS the employees.”
But we also know something else: that we are what we are because of one man’s vision, leadership, personality, and direction.
Sometimes in life, you get lucky enough to cross paths with someone who makes your journey better in ways both big and small. Roy was that person for so many of us.
In his spirit, we are all dedicated to carrying his vision forward. His legacy will live on in each of us, who share the same love of Condo-World . . . our homeowners, our guests, and each other.
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