Roto-Rooter marks seven decades

FOSTORIA — A chance meeting at a Fostoria gas station in the mid-1950s sparked a business legacy that has lasted seven decades. In 1955, a stranger offered to sell his business to a station employee. That employee was James "Gus" Munger, who seized the opportunity and became the Roto-Rooter franchisee for Seneca County. Seventy years later, that local branch of the drain-cleaning giant is in the hands of Tim Munger, 61, the youngest of Gus and Viola Munger's four children. Today, Tim Munger runs the definition of a small business. He is the entire workforce, handling everything from the physical clearing of drains to bookkeeping and customer service. "It's just owner-operator," Munger said. "You never know. I could work 20 hours this week and I could work 80 hours next week." The workload is often dictated by the weather and the calendar. During the recent summer drought, business slowed significantly. However, Munger expects to enter his busiest time of year now. "Roots are growing in sewers all summer. Then people come back from vacations, everybody is back home again plugging their kitchen drains and showers," he said. "That's why winter is usually busier." Plan b Despite the family history, Tim Munger did not originally aspire to follow in his father's footsteps. Like many young athletes, he hoped for a career in professional sports. "I graduated in 1982 from Fostoria High School, went to Columbus and attended DeVry University to get an electronics degree," he said. "I wanted to be a pro bowler, so all I really did was work in bowling centers and bowl all the time." When the sports dream didn't materialize, reality set in. His father, nearing 62, was ready to retire and offered Tim the business. "I'm like, 'No... Wait.' So, I put my big-boy pants on, moved back from Columbus and took over," Munger said. Learning the ropes Munger has now led the franchise for 31 years, following his father's 39-year tenure. While he now laughs about the early days, the transition came with a steep learning curve. "I moved back and he trained me for four months, and then they went to Florida," Munger said. "I had the highest phone bill in the land for the next four months," he added, recalling the frequent calls he made to his father for guidance. Over the years, industry tools have advanced, but Munger has elected to keep the business model simple. He focuses exclusively on drain cleaning, avoiding plumbing or septic-tank pumping. "I answer the phone and go do that one, then the phone rings and I go do that one," he said. "That's just kind of it." A family legacy Munger acknowledges that he is drawing close to retirement, but he still feels a familial tug toward the work. "When I jump into my dad's shoes, I'm keeping his legacy alive. That is most of it," he said. "Also, it keeps me in shape and gives me something to do. But I'm almost done with it. Let's put it that way. I'm getting close." Whatever his next endeavor may be, Munger holds onto the pride of continuing a business run that started with his father. Gus Munger died in May at age 92. "I just wish my dad would be here to be involved in this," Tim Munger said.