TABA Honors Builder Of Year, Top Associate By JIM BROWN - Staff Writer OONDAY — The Tyler Area Builders Association tapped developer Gary Root to be its Year 2000 Builder of the Year Friday night at the organization’s annual Christmas party held at Eagles Bluff Country Club on Lake Palestine. They also appointed Root as their 2001 president-elect. “I discharge you to fulfill all your duties,” senator-elect and Rep. Todd Staples commissioned Root. “Or until all recounts have been completed.” Root, 53, is president of Root Homes, and specializes in building high-end custom homes. In addition to building homes, he is currently involved in a commercial project, Donnybrook South. “Gary Root is one of the finest fellows I know and one of the most professional builders I’ve ever met,” said outgoing TABA President Bob Garrett. Though a builder of high-priced homes, Root said one of his presidential goals for the organization is to spend time in Austin, lobbying for low-cost housing. Root said he also wants to lead the organization to become involved in a housing project in 2001. Trained as an engineer, it wasn’t until after Root moved to Tyler in 1981 from Port Arthur that he began building houses. He built homes part-time before launching his full-time business in 1993. “But I was always interested in building houses,” he said. Root has been joined by his wife, Judy, and their five children in operating the family business. TABA named associate member Randy Humphrey as their 2000 Associate of the Year. Humphrey, 34, Whitehouse, is a sales representative with Transit Mix. He has been a member of the TABA for nine years. Associate members in the organization are non-builders who support the industry. Humphrey moved to the Tyler area in 1987. He and his wife, Lisa, are the parents of a 4-year-old son, Dylan. Garrett, 47, vice president of the Fair Management Co., has stepped down as president of the TABA, but was recently elected secretary-treasurer of the 10,000-member Texas Builders Association. He is slated to serve as the state builders’ president in 2003. “We provide 500,000 Texas jobs and produce $9 billion a year in Texas state products,” said Garrett, who is currently developing Hideaway Lake near I-20 in Smith County. Former TABA President Bert Ford introduced Staples, who still owns his own real estate business in Palestine. Before leaving to serve as a state representative, Staples was named Palestine Realtor of the Year in 1991 and 1993, Ford said. “He’s been there his entire life,” Ford said. “You might remember that from the campaign. It came up a few times.” Staples, a Republican who in his senatorial campaign never missed a chance to speak of his loyalty to Gov. George W. Bush, didn’t miss a chance to ally himself once again. “Did anyone see the speeches Wednesday night?” he asked. “The very next day the entire Gore legal team vacated Florida. They all went to the North Pole where they’re suing Santa Claus … Making a list, checking it twice.” Rounding out the election of the TABA officers, Mike Schovanec was appointed vice president, and Carl Barron, secretary-treasurer. © Tyler Morning Telegraph, re-printed with the permission of the Tyler Morning Telegraph back © 2008 Root Homes - All Rights Reserved.