Four mornings a week I walk from my home to the park in Gulf Shores. I walk twice around the park, and I arrive at Bodenhamer at 5:30 a.m. when they open the doors.

I usually spend another hour and a half doing cardio exercising.  After days, weeks, and years of keeping, more or less, the same schedule, you tend to become friends with others that also show up at the same time each day.  Four days a week, plus two more when I’m not there, you will find a gentleman in the gym exercising, and visiting, named Gerald “Jerry” W. Roote.

During the course of time, us “athletes” in the workout room have managed to drag out bits and pieces of details of Jerry’s life.  We found him to be an interesting man to say the least.

He was born in Bellville, Ontario, Canada, on March 3, 1938, and grew up in the small village of Rossmore, located on the Bay of Quinte on Lake Ontario.

Jerry was raised, along with his brother, Jack, and his two sisters, Bonnie and Patsey,  by a devout Irish Catholic mother, Cecelia and a paternal grandmother.   Jerry’s dad died when Jerry was 19.

Growing up in the rock-’n’-roll era, Jerry learned to play a mean set of drums.  Following a dream, he formed his own band, which became quite well known all around the Bay.  The demand for his group prompted him, and a couple friends, to open a club that they called the Wharf.

Every night was packed full, and Jerry became quite a local celebrity.

Eventually, after getting married, Jerry sold his interest in the club, and immigrated to Detroit, Mich., with his wife and a son, where three more sons were born.

Working in a coffee plant, his work ethic, and Jerry’s passion for perfection resulted in his being promoted to production manager.  He worked there for eight years until 1971 he was transferred to New Orleans where he was charged with opening a new plant, and hiring and training all the employees.  He ran the plant, managing all operations, for seven years.

Jerry loved New Orleans, but was recruited by Royal Cup Coffee in Birmingham to build a roasting plant there.  He became their Vice President of Operations.   

From Birmingham, he was sent to Tampa, Fla., where he was told to build, and run the plant operations there, as well as oversee the operations of the plant in Birmingham. He did this until he was solicited, and hired by Hill and Brooks to build and operate one of their plants.

Amongst all his other responsibilities, while at Royal Cup, and also at Hill and Brooks, he established quality control, and was the green coffee buyer, and the taster which earned him the title of “Master Cupper.”

If that wasn’t enough, he introduced ice tea operations to both companies.

After a divorce in 1990, Jerry gave up his Senior Vice President’s position, moved to Pensacola and built and operated his own tea plant.  Eventually, he sold his business to Ecelco Coffee of Atlanta, but agreeing to helping them set up the business, and consulting in coffee production and roasting operations.

After finally retiring, a friend convinced him to partner in building a tea sweetener manufacturing plant.  Jerry agreed but insisted on building in Loxley to be closer to his sons, and grandchildren who live in Foley, Elberta, and Gulf Shores.

In 2006 Jerry decided he’d worked long enough.  He retired again, bought a Porsche and a Jeep, and moved to Gulf Shores.

It’s here where all that are fortunate enough to know this remarkable man, are able to say that Gerald “Jerry” W. Roote lives on the island and that we are proud to be able to call him a friend