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ROBERT E. "BOB" ROOT:  choosing Riverton twice
Interview: August 20, 1995
by Leniegh Schrinar
(NOTE: Bob Root traveled around a quad-state area--CO, NE, MT, WY--as a representative of the International Harvester Company.  He traveled to Riverton for the first time in 1947.  In 1954 he had an opportunity to create a residence in Fremont Cou nty where he established a relationship with many area farmers and ranchers.)
Outside the house the teenage boy was eager and took everything in as Bob Root gave the low down on the pickup truck with the For Sale by Owner sign.  As the inspection ended, the boy repeated he would
definitely call that night.  Bob said, "Thank you for stopping by."  There was respect in Bob's voice.
Inside the house a tape recorder tried to capture the events that led to Bob and Irene Root settling in Riverton.  Bob's life began in Watertown, South Dakota not far from the Minnnesota line.  Bob worked
three jobs before and after his high school classes: getting milk for the dairy, odd jobbing for the Chevrolet garage, and flipping hamburgers at a cafe that stayed open until 2 a.m.
Bob continued those jobs after high school.  His German teacher would give him a bad time about falling asleep in class.  "I probably did", chuckles Bob.
Bob married Irene Heiden in 1937 in Watertown.  Bob had been sweet on her and stole her with his charm, wit, and good character.  After a honeymoon trip to California, Bob and Irene continued on with their honeymoon as they were transfered fr om town to town with the International Harvester Company.  "Irene was just thinking the other day about how many houses we've lived in.  We only lived about 2 and a half years in each place.  It was just Irene and me so we could move easily." reca lls Bob.
Bob and Irene didn't move to Riverton until about 1954 when Bob was being transferred with IH.  He had his choice of Lander or Riverton.  Since he would be working with IH dealers in both towns, it simply was a matter of picking a place.
Bob and Irene chose Riverton.  They had the contract on the second house in the Logan Park area, but it wasn't the second house completed.  They have lived in that location ever since.
IH had a revolutionary idea.  Harvesting beets by machine!  "Ol' Adams, who was a good farmer with only one arm, just couldn't believe that a machine could do the job faster than by hand.  The one row
machine would pull the beets right out of the ground and feed the beets into a hopper that was attached.  IH relied on information from the farmers to help the company perfect the product.  It revolutionized the
beet industry." recalls Bob with enthusiasm that matches believing in a product.  He agreed that it was a major labor saving device.
Towards the end of the 50's Bob had an opportunity to transfer with IH to Spokane.  Spokane was nice and the boss was a likable fellow, but the Roots decided to stay in Riverton.
Root began a 14 year career that hd connections with one of his early jobs--another Chevrolet garage.  This time it was selling vehicles with Porter Chopping.
One of Bob's scrapbook's disclosed that in 1961 Robert E. Root was the number one Chevrolet salesman in the region encompassing Utah, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado. Bob never mentioned it in the interview.
Bob has been community minded over the years: Kiwanis, school board, city council, county school board, state school board, and treasurer of Trinity Lutheran Church.  He still is community minded
eventhough he isn't active on any boards.  He cares about Riverton.
What was one of the best things that happened in Riverton?  Paving the streets was a memory maker.  That made a big difference in the town.
Bob couldn't think of anything that could be labeled the "worst" thing that happened.  "There are things that didn't work out or ended up to be something a little different."
After labeling Root a people person, he was asked what things he has learned about people.  Root says that it is the person that makes the difference not the last name eventhough sometimes the last name does make a difference.  "You can' t go by that.  It used to be a person could kind of go by that.  Nowadays each person needs to develop their own worth."
The last thing that Bob Root said long after the interview was over was, "Thank you."  In his voice was the familiar ring of respect that people of all ages can hear in R.E. Root's voice.

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