264 Development for Western States, and marketing and media consultant Deborah L. Daily, of Buckaroo Marketing, based in Fishers, Indiana. It became apparent early on that this centennial project had become a labor of love for these three tireless supporters of Western States. They spent countless hours, more than ever anticipated, on this project. Their insight and their dedication to this project are deeply appreciated. The initial phase of the 100th anniversary project focused on historical research, going back to Western States’ early days, and even earlier. This was made easier by the fact that a number of Western States employees had preserved company documents and photographs dating from the company’s inception. More than 5,000 priceless documents, including Western States’ stock certificate #1, representing one share of Western States stock issued to founder Eugene Roberts, were unearthed, digitally archived and reproduced in this book. Considerable effort was expended by Deborah Daily in finding, gathering, cataloging and digitizing these and numerous other materials. Critical to development of the actual text of 100 Years—The Story of The Western States Machine Company was the availability of the company’s 75-year history written by former Western States President Bob Jones together with former Western States employee Jerry Grossman, along with the recruitment of writer Scott Flood by Deborah Daily, as well as the artistic creativity of Buckaroo Marketing|New Media and that firm’s talented designers. Lastly, refining the voluminous available material into a comprehensive story, and final editing, were a time-consuming and challenging process to which all members of the Board’s special committee contributed. 100 Years—The Story of The Western States Machine Company is several stories in one. It is the story of Eugene Roberts, the brilliant and tenacious engineer who created Western States and also led Western States’ technical and business development for decades thereafter, ultimately influencing the global sugar refining and processing industry. Even today, more than half a century after he passed away, the Roberts name is well CHAPTER 17