thestar.com

[John H. Root] served three years as minister without portfolio in Premier Leslie Frost's cabinet, and more than a decade on the Ontario Water Resources Commission under premiers John Robarts and Bill Davis - including a stint as chairman - before retiring from politics in 1975.

While in office, Root invited [Jack Johnson] and his wife, Marnie, to the opening of a new session at Queen's Park - an experience that impressed Johnson, "and maybe gave me some idea that I might like to follow in John's footsteps."

Root was "a down-to-earth, common-sense individual," who thought nothing of picking up the phone and calling friends at 5 or 6 a.m., Johnson said. After all, he was a farmer, and early morning was the only time he could spare for chit-chat.