Furniture Industry Sales Rep Emmet Root Passes Away at 88

Furniture World News Desk on 9/21/2022

Furniture Sales of Mid-America and Mike Root reported that company founder Emmet Root passed peacefully at home in the arms of his wife at the age of 88. 

An industry veteran, Root started working for his father as a furniture sales person in 1958, traveling to retail furniture stores in Iowa and Nebraska. In 1963 he started his own sales representation company, Furniture Sales of Mid-America, now run by his son Mike and and grandson Jay. 

"Emmet lived life to the fullest," recalled Mike Root. "He enjoyed being with people and always had a smile and pleasant demeanor. It didn’t matter if you were a server or a CEO, he treated everyone the same. He had no need to look beyond the person he was sharing a conversation with. He was a genuine guy who shared many friendships."

An avid golfer, he was a competitor from the start of his golfing career at the age of 11 until three weeks before his death. He won many club tournaments, enjoying the competition and the camaraderie. His prowess on the course was incredible as he logged 7 hole in ones, and one albatross (a 2 on a par 5). He also kept every scorecard that he had shot his age or better, the first one occurring when he was 68 years old. These scorecards number a remarkable 113 rounds.

Over his 62 year career Emmet accumulated close to 100 sales awards from at least a dozen companies that he represented. The International Home Furnishing Representatives Association (IHFRA), honored Emmet in 2018 with the first ever ICON of the Industry award with almost 1000 people attending.