ERNIE ROOT IS INDUCTED INTO THE ARCHERY HALL OF FAME

ERNIE ROOT IS INDUCTED INTO THE ARCHERY HALL OF FAME

by Larry Vienneau

Ernie Root Induction Plaque, May 16, 2026

Ernie Root's commemorative 

panel inside the Archery Hall of Fame

Addressing the attendees at the AHOF awards dinner

Congratulating Rick Mansberger on 13 years of hard work

Larry Root is holding the Golden Eagle Bow, once owned by his
brother Ron. This gold-plated bow was donated to
The Archery Hall of Fame.

The two Larrys

Larry Root with Bill Franke, avid Root collector.

AHOF Inductees Ken Beck, Terry Wunderle, Diane Miller, and Jay Barrs

AHOF member Ann Butz, Grand Slam Champion, with her Root Golden Eagle Recurve.

Ann Marston's display at the AHOF

Glenn St. Charles' display at the AHOF

Ben Pearson's display at the AHOF

Fred Bear's display at the AHOF

Byron Fergerson's Display at AHOF

Earl Hoyt's Display at the AHOF

Diane Miller and Rick Mansburger with the Gold Golden Eagle Recurve

AHOF "Meet and Greet" dinner with 2024-25 Inductees to the Archery Hall of Fame.

 Terry Wunderle, Diane Miller, Jay Barrs, Ken Beck, Gary Bogner, and Ernie Root represented by Larry Rootand Hardy Ward (deceased) 

Diane Miller's recognition awards for her years of dedication to the AHOF

Examples of Ernie Root's Beautiful Target bows

On May 15-16, 2026, Ernie Root was finally inducted into the Archery Hall of Fame. Ernie Root’s vast contributions to archery have finally been recognized. He is the 103rd member of the AHOF. The two evening events were incredible. I met three Olympic Champions, three World Champions, and several bowhunting world record holders. I saw an incredible act of kindness during the auction. One of the AHOF members offered a set of arrows he built 40 years ago for auction. The bidding went ballistic and ended with 19,600 for a dozen 40-year-old arrows. The winner, Casey Brooks, posed with the arrows and promptly returned them to the Archery Hall of Fame. It was a $19,600 gift!!

I attempted to give Ernie Root the introduction he deserved, but my emotions got the best of me. Here is what I should have said:

Ernie Root began his bow-making career at American Archery in Chicago in the late 1940s. He left American Archery and started Root Archery in the early 1950s as a family business in suburban Chicago. After outgrowing a few smaller spaces, it moved out of the city, eventually settling in Big Rapids, MI.  In early 1960, Ernie Root began a collaboration with Shakespeare Archery while continuing to grow Root Archery. All of Shakespeare’s bows were based on bows made by Root Archery. Root Archery and Shakespeare Archery merged in 1969. Shakespeare continued without Ernie Root, which adversely affected quality and production. Ernie continued designing bows with the Root Archery Research Division. He later worked with Phil Grable and developed one of the most innovative and accurate bows of that era. Their Golden Eagle became the first bow to shoot a perfect score in a major competition and changed bow designs forever.

 We started the process in 2013 (see the letter here http://archeryhalloffame.com/We%20get%20Letters.html), and in 2022, we submitted Ernie Root’s nomination to the Archery Hall of Fame Committee. It has been a long road. I have written 64 posts on Ernie Root, written about every bow Ernie made for both Root and Shakespeare, owned dozens of Root and Shakespeare bows, and collaborated with Larry Root to write chapters in Rick Rappe's book Vintage Bows III. I have had help from some of the most knowledgeable people in the archery field. I have also made some good friends. So, in retrospect, 2013 was too early; I didn’t know enough. By 2022, I had formed the friendships that helped me learn more about Ernie Root and the Golden Age of Archery.

This would not be possible without the help of:

Lewis Kent for sharing his obsession, for his research, and for helping to write many of these posts.

Lawrence Root is the “Guru.” All knowledge flows from “Larry 1.” He has been unselfishly sharing his memories and experiences.  

A special thanks to Rick Mansberger for kicking Larry 1 and Larry 2 in the butt and helping us get this done.  

Thank you to Michael “Rick” Rappe, the author of Vintage Bows I, II, and III.

The Late George Stout, RIP.  You were an endless source of knowledge.

 “The Code Breakers”- Kerry Hardy, Peter Denley, David Ross, and John Murphy. They figured out the Shakespeare Serial Number system.

Thank you to everyone who shared knowledge, experience, and their bows:

Edward Campbell,  Stephan Tongi, Jeff  Freeman, Pole Spear, Thomas Goessman, Shayne Efaw, Joseph Spallone, Kerry Stout, Jacki Clauson, Joey Zoppa, Kevin Sperber, Lavi Niv, Jack Shanks, Bob Hargreaves, Jermy Leemgraven, Aaron Brill, Cody Connerley, Brett Parker, Cameron Root, Russ Otis, George Trefethen, RCG Cochron,  David Landis, Mike Shaw, Chris Miller, Josh Conway, Brian T. Swords, Brad Barclay, Jim Luby…….I am sure I am missing many!!

Thanks to the nearly 700,000 people who have visited the blog.

Special thanks to Diane Miller, Tom Nelson, and the Board of Directors of the Archery Hall of Fame.

 The Class of 2024-25 Archery Hall of Fame Inductees include Bowhunting Legend, Gary Bogne; Olympian, Hardy Ward, and Archery Innovator, Ernie Root; Jay Barrs, Diane Miller, Terry Wundwele, and Ken Beck, inducted into the Archery Hall of Fame on May 15-16, 2026

Archery Hall of Fame & Museum Inc., 1 Bass Pro Drive, Springfield, Missouri 65807

Archery Hall of Fame
& Museum, Inc.
P.O. Box 258
Corry, PA 16407

Phone:
1.814.392.8901

http://archeryhalloffame.com/

 

Why Collect Shakespeare and Root Bows?

Why do I collect Root / Shakespeare Archery? 

by Larry Vienneau

  rewritten 5/23/2026

• After all, many archery companies outlasted Root and Shakespeare Archery. 
• Many were founded long before Ernie Root and Shakespeare Archery. 
• Many have more interest among collectors.
• Many archery producers made more lasting technological contributions, so why this interest in Root / Shakespeare?  

WHY COLLECT ROOT /SHAKESPEARE BOWS?   

          

I was a child during the late 1950s and early 1960s. My summers were spent in the woods, making my own bow and arrows and chasing imaginary villains with my “lethal weapons.” My parents sent me off to camp, and I soon found I had a knack for archery. I had always struggled with school, so for me, recognizing my abilities with the bow helped my self-esteem immensely. Summer school camp was books in the morning, fishing, canoeing, and bows in the afternoon. I was handed a solid fiberglass bow and was told to shoot. I noticed the name “Shakespeare” and remembered something about a story of how archers helped win the crown of England. I struggled with school, but I was a bright kid. “Shoot the bow kid!” was the order barked at me. I shot and hit the target dead center. “Luck” was the barked reply. I repeated the shot exactly and the barking stopped. Later that summer I won my first trophy in an archery competition. It was my first feeling of achievement and self-worth. Archery would remain an important part of my life.

During my adolescent years, archery remained on the outskirts.  I finished art school and began my life as a starving artist. I learned to make bows again and started to literally put food on the table with them. After years of hard work, I was hired for my dream job of teaching art in Alaska. My love of archery was fully reawakened. I made longbows, recurves, and a few native-style bows. I shot competitions and amassed a small collection of trophies and medals.  I collected and refurbished vintage bows, but Shakespeare never crossed my path again until one long, late fall moose hunt. It was cold, as it often is in Alaska. I had been working a ridge near a slough that had lots of moose signs. It was late, and I was drained. I decided to head out before I lost the light. As I crisscrossed my trail, I spotted a glint of white near a large spruce stand. Upon close inspection, I realized it was a very old moose kill; there was a remnant of a moose skull. 

That was when I noticed Shakespeare. He was resting against a tree exactly where he had been placed forty or more years earlier. The hunter had placed the bow there while field dressing his moose, and while he made several trips to pack the meat. In his exhaustion, he left his bow, and it stood there for decades unmoved, waiting. It was aged and cracked from the relentless cold of Alaska’s winters. Proudly, the name of Shakespeare emerged from the mold and grime. It was a Parabow, and its draw weight was readable at 55#, enough power for a well-placed wooden arrow to take down a moose. I never got my moose that year, but I did have that bow. I knew it could never be shot again, but it became my first Shakespeare bow.

 I lost the bow years later in a car break-in; I also lost several others I stupidly left in my car. But that Shakespeare fiberglass bow was special. It stood unyielding for decades, waiting for me to come along. I started collecting again a few years ago and soon found a rekindled love for the Root / Shakespeare bow I had known as a child. So when I hear “Why collect Shakespeare? they aren’t worth much are they?” 

I shake my head and chuckle because I know that they are priceless. 

Early 1960s Shakespeare Parabows

AI images for entertainment purposes only  :) 

© Copyright, Larry Vienneau Jr.

All rights reserved.