Wednesday will be Doug Root’s last day on the job, after more than 35 years with the City of Austin.

Monday, July 12, 1999

Wednesday will be Doug Root’s last day on the job, after more than 35 years with the City of Austin.

His first day on the job came about because of a broken caulking gun.

Root was working with a couple of carpenters on a house, when the caulking gun he was using on the chimney broke. He borrowed another one from the guy next door, who just happened to be the city street foreman.

"He asked me if I was looking for work and I told him I was always looking for a better job," Root said. "He called me up one day and I’ve been here ever since."

Root worked his way up to heavy equipment operator – the position he holds until Wednesday – starting as a common laborer, moving to truck driver and working his way through two other classes of operator before getting to the big front end loaders and snow blowers.

He’s looking forward to retirement, although he said he’ll miss the people.

"It’s been a good place to work," Root said.

As for retirement, Root doesn’t have any specific plans. He’s aiming to continue to hunt and fish a lot. He’s got a lot of family to keep him busy too. He and his wife Carol have four kids: Lori, Bill, Doug and Michelle who all live in Austin.

"I’ve got quite a pile of grandkids here too," he said. "We’re all pretty close as a family."

One thing’s for certain, his "family" in the city street department will miss him and his experience.

"Doug’s a great guy – he has a way of making the days go quicker," street superintendent Steve Moe said. Moe’s worked with Root since 1985. "He’s a very dependable, very talented person. We’ll miss him, not just me as a superintendent but everyone he worked with. "