SierraScape August - September 2009
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It is with great sadness that we share the news that the founder of the OTA, master trail builder, and our friend, John Roth, died in a tragic accident on July 3, 2009 on his farm in Crawford County. John was driving his tractor when a dead tree toppled over on him as he drove past it, pinning him against the steering wheel.

John formed the Ozark Trail Association as a nonprofit corporation to raise money on behalf of the trail. He was the organization' s first president.

His hope was to repair and expand the trail so that it might one day rival in popularity of the Appalachian Trail, the nation's longest marked footpath.

Today, the Ozark Trail begins near the Onondaga Cave near Leasburg, Mo., and has about 350 miles of mostly wooded, back-country routes.

Some people have inquired about where to send cards and personal notes to John's family. You can do so to his wife Anne at the following address:

Anne Roth
6446 Murdoch
St. Louis, MO 63109

The Roth family appreciates memorial contributions be made to Ozark Trail Association:

Ozark Trail Association
483 South Kirkwood Rd. #40
Kirkwood, MO 63122.

Or you can go to the OTA website at ozarktrail.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=443.