22 CHAPTER 2 On January 17, 1917, the partners agreed to build this new facility in Salt Lake City, and incorporated the Western States Machine Company on April 11, with offices in the Dooly Building at 109 West Second South Street. Designed by famed architect Louis Sullivan, the structure was praised as his best work in the west, but sadly fell to the wrecking ball in 1964. Eugene Roberts served as the first President of Western States, with George Child as Vice President. Ernest Andina served as Secretary-Treasurer for less than a week, before being replaced by Joseph Sampson. In February 1918, Sampson stepped aside and T.B. Stearns moved his personal assistant, Dudley Parker, into the role. Other directors included J.A. Melville, Ethel R. Stone, and A.B. Kennedy. Through a series of quick expansions, the new plant soon outgrew the original concept. By 1919, Western States was engaged in manufacturing many components of the Company’s centrifugals, although many other components were still being made by American Tool and Machine on the company’s behalf. 1920 saw the latest innovation from Roberts, a separator that efficiently removed the green syrup from the wash syrup. It wasn’t long before a significant percentage of American sugar plants relied on Roberts-Gibson technology, and the Company began to sell to sugar producers in foreign countries. In 1921, Roberts moved into the General Manager’s role, and Tom Smart assumed the Company’s presidency. above: "Stearns was a pretty sharp individual, who could trade. ...Even then Stearns was an old man, but his 6'3" or more stature and his sharp eyes made him cut quite a figure. When Stearns talked, people listened..." — Written by J. Cecil Ferguson, February 20, 1953 TBStearns (10052951), History of Colorado