From Wild Sarsaparilla, aka Stephanie Root

Kirby Allan Root, aka Wildroot, died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at Sutter Roseville Medical Center Neuro Trauma Intensive Care Unit in California. He was 68 years old and a resident of Greenwood, California. He was a regular shooter—usually twice a weekend—at Cowboy Town and other shooting clubs in the greater Sacramento area. He was a lifetime member of SASS, Badge #33149L

Kirby was born on April 20, 1943 in Santa Monica to Beryl and Eugene Root. His father was a rocket scientist who started Lockheed Space and Missile. His father’s career required several moves for the family, so Kirby grew up in southern California, northern California and a year-stint in the Washington D.C. area. As an adult, he lived mostly in the Bay Area until he moved to the Georgetown Divide about 18 years ago.

Kirby was proud that he had served in the Marines in a reserve unit in the early 60’s. His last assignment was in motor transport with a company in southern California.

Kirby used to tell me that when he was a little boy, Hopalong Cassidy was his hero. Total childhood adoration. Kirby told me he had three cowboy outfits as a child, the one he wore, the one in the wash, and the one being repaired. He also had fond memories of shooting and hunting with his dad.

Kirby was very passionate and intense about his hobbies; if you knew Kirby you would know this is an understatement. In about 2003, his brother Brian (aka Hayroot) got him hooked on Cowboy Action Shooting, and this was arguably the biggest passion of his life. His first experience in SASS shooting was in Wisconsin. Kirby and I were visiting and went with Brian to a shoot. Kirby has stated his intention to “just watch,” but when he got interested Brian was ready with a car trunk full of leather and guns for Kirby to try. Wildroot was born on the first stage.

Once Kirby decided to “go for it” the decision to become shooter in the gunfighter class was almost immediate. He wanted to shoot like his childhood heroes. His problem, of course, was his “dumb” left hand. He took on training that hand in many creative ways, including brushing his teeth with his left hand and putting his mouse on the left side of his computer.

He loved every aspect of the sport—buying and tuning the perfect guns, talking about guns endlessly, the friends he made in the sport, helping and encouraging other shooters, improving his shooting, figuring out the smartest way to shoot the targets, competing and being good enough to be competitive. He had wonderful mentors and teachers as he worked on becoming proficient in the sport, especially Badlands Bud, Doc Shapiro and Evil Roy. Black Jack Traven was his mentor for being a posse leader. He constantly pushed himself by competing with his local buddies.

He was the California State Champion Gunfighter several years. The first annual shoot he won was at Fire in the Hills in Wisconsin. The highest award he achieved in the sport was world champion senior gunfighter in 2008.

Wildroot married me (Stephanie or Wild Sarsaparilla) in 1984 and we would have celebrated their 28th anniversary on leap year day this year. I regularly went to cowboy shoots with Kirby so that I could be conversant with him on this sport that he loved so much. I was known for yelling “That’s my baby” when he shot a good stage or received an award. It was such a tradition that he or others would yell when I wasn’t there.

If you would like to make a contribution in Kirby’s memory, a fund is being set up in Kirby’s name that will be used to enhance Cowboy Town, a place he spent many hours engaged in his favorite pastime. The checks should be made out to SVSC (Sacramento Valley Shooting Club). They should be mailed to Mike Calvo, PO Box 713, Sloughhouse, CA 95683

Arroyo Cantua will be dedicated to Wildroot this year, and the events will include a special memorial for Kirby on Friday night for his cowboy friends.

I have received many touching notes from people remembering the support he gave them, the fun they shared, and his giant bear hugs. I especially loved one message remembering a quote from Kirby in a discussion about how much fun they were going to have at a Wild Bunch shoot, “It’s amazing how careless some folks can be. They leave fun and happiness lying about all over the place. All astute guys like you and me need to do is pay attention and scoop it up. Extra fun is ours for the taking.”

That’s my baby!

Wildroot