LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 125th Anniversary of The Foun-
tainhead Group

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the
community and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 125th Anniversary of The Fountainhead Group, to be celebrated
on August 29, 2013; and
WHEREAS, The event will showcase the company's products in a large
conference room that is in the process of serving as venue for the
permanent display of the milestones in its 125-year life; Fountainhead
Group Owner and CEO John Romano, was the catalyst and the inspiration
for the book SMITH - ROMANO: MAKING IT HAPPEN, a 125th anniversary
history, written by local author and historian Malio J. Cardarelli; and
WHEREAS, Located on Garden Street in Utica, New York, and formerly
known as D. B. Smith & Co., The Fountainhead Group is the manufacturer
as well as the distributor of all types of plastic sprayers, foggers,
and the resilient Indian Fire Pump made of metal for worldwide distrib-
ution; and
WHEREAS, Asked about the company, John Romano mentioned that it began
with the vision of a farmer, D. B. Smith, born in Deerfield in the mid
19th century; because of his occupation, D. B. Smith learned what farm-
ers needed to make their work easier and more productive; and
WHEREAS, D. B. Smith invented a variety of farming tools, some of
which were quite large and complicated; one particular device, made of
metal, revolutionized how insecticides and other materials were spread
for home and garden use, and his was the first in the world to do so,
which explains why it was sought after nationally and internationally;
and
WHEREAS, After the death of D. B. Smith, three of his five sons,
Alfred, Myron, and Golden, ably took over operation of the business; in
1973, it was sold to F. Eugene Romano, a well-known local businessman,
and he introduced another first-in-the-world concept, plastic instead of
metal sprayers, which changed the entire industry; and
WHEREAS, With Eugene Romano so involved with his other investments,
his son, John, led the D. B. Smith part of his father's operation; John
mentioned that after a devastating 40,000 unit recall in 1980, D. B.
Smith & Co. faltered but never failed, and in just a few years, with a
variety of innovative company initiatives, it was able to increase busi-
ness tenfold; and
WHEREAS, Subsequently, the name of the company was changed to The
Fountainhead Group, but continued to market some of its sprayers under
the D. B. Smith name; brands such as Black Flag, Roundup, Pump 'N Go,
Burgess, and Decks & More are names under which Fountainhead Sprayers
are sold, and before that, sprayers were marketed primarily under the
name of the company that manufactured them; and
WHEREAS, John Romano purchased the company from his father in 2001,
and since that time he has increased manufacturing, warehousing, and
distribution, adjusting the size of the New York Mills facility alone to
180,000 square feet, and employing as many as 200 workers; in addition,
The Fountainhead Group's variety of brand-name sprayers, foggers, and
backpacks lead all other competitors worldwide in sales; and

WHEREAS, Fountainhead-manufactured products can be found on the
shelves of major retailers of such products throughout the nation
including Lowe's, Home Depot, and Wal-Mart; the Pump 'N Go Sprayer,
designed and manufactured in New York Mills, has become a sensation
nationally; and
WHEREAS, A true asset to society, The Fountainhead Group's distin-
guished record merits the recognition and respectful tribute of this
Legislative Body; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 125th Anniversary of The Fountainhead Group; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to John Romano, Owner and CEO, The Fountainhead Group.