View source for Ronnie and Donnie Galyon

{{short description|Oldest conjoined twins (1951–2020)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name                    = Ronnie and Donnie Galyon
| imagesize               =
| caption                 =
| birth_name              = Ronald Lee Galyon<br>Donald Lee Galyon
| birth_date              = {{birth date|mf=y|1951|10|28}}
| birth_place             = [[Dayton, Ohio]], U.S.
| death_date              = {{death date and age|mf=y|2020|7|4|1951|10|28}}
| death_place             = Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
| othername               =
| occupation              = Sideshow attractions, reality TV personalities
| known                   = Oldest set of conjoined twins ever
}}
'''Ronald Lee Galyon''' and '''Donald Lee Galyon''' (October 28, 1951 – July 4, 2020)<ref name="ddn">{{cite news |last1=Franks |first1=Sarah |title=Galyon brothers, world's longest-living conjoined twins from Dayton, die at 68 |url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/galyon-brothers-world-longest-living-conjoined-twins-from-dayton-die/1uDJTdAv3tlhnFlUDEPERP/ |accessdate=5 July 2020 |work=Dayton Daily News |date=4 July 2020 |archive-date=July 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705045609/https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/galyon-brothers-world-longest-living-conjoined-twins-from-dayton-die/1uDJTdAv3tlhnFlUDEPERP/ |url-status=live }}</ref> were American [[conjoined twins]] from [[Dayton, Ohio]]. According to the 2009 ''[[Guinness World Records]]'', the Galyons were the oldest living set of conjoined twins in the world, and, as of October 29, 2014, possessed the world record for the longest-lived conjoined twins in history when they surpassed prior record holders [[Chang and Eng Bunker]].
== Early life and career ==
They were born at St. Elizabeth Hospital in [[Dayton, Ohio]], on October 28, 1951, to Wesley and Eileen Galyon. Eileen was not expecting twins. They were joined from the [[sternum]] to the [[groin]] and shared a set of organs.<ref name="ddn"/> After a two-year stay in the hospital, it was determined that they could not be safely separated. Local schools deemed the twins a distraction, so they were not formally educated, resulting in their life-long [[functional illiteracy]].<ref name="grn">{{cite news |last1=Thoms |first1=Sue |title=Life as conjoined twins: 'You see the warmest of hearts, and you see the coldest of hearts' |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/07/life_as_conjoined_twins_you_se.html |accessdate=June 27, 2018 |work=Grand Rapids News |date=2014-07-03}}</ref>
With nine children to support, their father Wesley decided to take the twins on the road as a [[sideshow]] attraction. The boys were exhibited in sideshows throughout the U.S. and later in [[Latin America]]<ref name="phre">{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Elizabeth |title=A collection of historic Images - Ronnie & Donnie Galyon |url=http://www.sideshowworld.com/81-SSPAlbumcover/Ronnie/Donnie.html |website=SideShow World |accessdate=27 June 2018 |archive-date=September 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915123126/http://www.sideshowworld.com/81-SSPAlbumcover/Ronnie/Donnie.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and Canada.<ref name="nickell">{{Cite book |last=Nickell |first=Joe |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/65377460 |title=Secrets of the sideshows |date=2005 |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |isbn=0-8131-7179-2 |location=Lexington, Ky. |oclc=65377460 |author-link=Joe Nickell |access-date=March 5, 2023}}</ref>{{rp|127}} Their tours made them celebrities and provided an income with which they supported their family.<ref name="grn"/>
== Later life ==
In 1991, after three decades in entertainment, the pair retired<ref name="nydn">{{cite news |last1=Engel |first1=Meredith |title=Ronnie and Donnie Galyon become oldest living conjoined twins |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/ronnie-donnie-galyon-oldest-conjoined-twins-article-1.2061135 |accessdate=27 June 2018 |work=New York Daily News |date=2014-12-30}}</ref> and moved into their first independent home in [[Dayton, Ohio]], in a house purchased with sideshow earnings. They were active in the community and lived a largely normal life by means of  a custom double wheelchair. Although retired from show business, the twins made numerous television appearances. They appeared on ''[[The Jerry Springer Show]]'' in 1997, a [[Discovery Channel]] [[Documentary film|documentary]] in 1998 and a [[Channel 5 (British TV channel)|Channel Five]] documentary in 2009.<ref name="dbbc">{{cite news |last1=Frohlik |first1=Cornelius |title=BBC camera crew films conjoined Galyon twins |url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/bbc-camera-crew-films-conjoined-galyon-twins/rtjjPX8ejVGlJWOT8kPsjM/ |accessdate=6 July 2020 |work=Dayton Daily News |date=2010-06-21 |archive-date=September 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915123154/https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/bbc-camera-crew-films-conjoined-galyon-twins/rtjjPX8ejVGlJWOT8kPsjM/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="har">{{cite news |last1=Leibovich-Dar |first1=Sara |title=Till Death Do Us Part |url=https://www.haaretz.com/1.5343931 |accessdate=6 July 2020 |work=Haaretz |date=2003-07-15 |archive-date=September 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915123129/https://www.haaretz.com/1.5343931 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2009, Ronnie developed a life-threatening infection in his lungs, which quickly endangered both twins. After their hospitalization, they required round-the-clock care. Their younger brother Jim and his wife Mary, who lived in the same city, were unable to bring the twins into their home as it was not [[accessibility|handicap accessible]], until an outpouring of donations and volunteers from the local community assisted in building a special addition to the home.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Longest-Surviving Conjoined Twins Die at 68: 'They Couldn't Ask for Anything More,' Says Brother|url=https://people.com/human-interest/world-longest-surviving-conjoined-twins-die-at-68/|access-date=2020-07-09|website=PEOPLE.com|language=EN|archive-date=September 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915123143/https://people.com/human-interest/world-longest-surviving-conjoined-twins-die-at-68/|url-status=live}}</ref> On December 22, 2010, [[The Learning Channel|TLC]] premiered "The World's Oldest Conjoined Twins Move Home", which documented the building process as well as the twins' recovery and their return to the community.<ref name="tfc">{{cite web|title="World's Oldest Conjoined Twins Move Home" Premieres Wednesday, December 22 at 8/7c on TLC|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/12/21/worlds-oldest-conjoined-twins-move-home-premieres-wednesday-december-22-at-8-7c-on-tlc-380504/20101221tlc01/#ixzz18toZ4j2n|website=The Futon Critic|accessdate=June 27, 2018}}</ref>
== Death ==
The twins, aged 68, died of congestive [[heart failure]] in a hospice surrounded by their family in their native Dayton, Ohio, on July 4, 2020.<ref name="whio">{{cite news|last1=Hackworth|first1=Franchesca|title=Conjoined twins, Ronnie and Donnie Galyon of Beavercreek, passed away|url=https://www.whio.com/news/local/ronnie-donnie-galyon-oldest-conjoined-twins-passed-away-this-morning/YZNPIR5RYJFZVDXCBBBSGJGGPI|accessdate=July 5, 2020|work=WHIO|date=July 4, 2020}}</ref><ref name="made">{{cite news |title=Brother of Longest-Surviving Conjoined Twins: 'They Made 68' |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/ohio/articles/2020-07-07/brother-of-longest-surviving-conjoined-twins-they-made-68 |accessdate=12 July 2020 |agency=Associated Press |date=7 July 2020 |archive-date=July 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200710205538/https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/ohio/articles/2020-07-07/brother-of-longest-surviving-conjoined-twins-they-made-68 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Galyon, Ronnie and Donnie}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:American twins]]
[[Category:Conjoined twins]]
[[Category:Deaths from congestive heart failure]]
[[Category:Participants in American reality television series]]
[[Category:People from Dayton, Ohio]]
[[Category:Sideshow performers]]