.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} Roger Cox, 55, has a knack for rallying people, whether it’s organizing Winnebago Industries Inc.’s Grand National Rally as president of the Iowa Winnie Hawks Club of the Winnebago-Itasca Travelers, or recruiting new members to the American Agricultural Economics Association and the Associated Builders and Contractors of Iowa. Now, the retired Air Force officer is looking to draw people to Valley Junction as the new executive director of the Historic Valley Junction Foundation.

Are you originally from Iowa?

Montezuma. We still have a lake home on Ponderosa. I live six units from my brother. Whenever we’re not working and we’re not camping, we’re at the lake.

Did you always grow up in the area?

I was adopted, but I lived my whole life there until I went to the academy when I was 17 years old. I was recruited to play football. I spent four years at the Air Force Academy and then 20 years of service after that. I [lived] in California twice. Washington state once, Oklahoma once, Mississippi once and San Antonio once.

As an RV owner, do you travel out of state quite a bit?

Not really. My wife, Kathy, is a manager of the Jordan Creek Internal Medicine [Clinic] office, so that keeps us really tied up.

When did you settle in Ankeny?

I moved back to Montezuma and then my wife at the time got a job in Polk County, requiring us to relocate, and that’s when we moved to Ankeny in 1996. I was looking for work as a retired military officer and that’s how I got into the not-for-profit work.

What are you most excited about in this new position?

Working for the members. The merchants are excited about what they do here and they’re excited about what the foundation can do as a collective effort to bring visitors down here. Starting with Cinco de Mayo, the concert on Memorial Day, 21 farmers markets followed by 21 Music in the Junction events and holiday open houses, it’s just continuous events. We’re competing with the big malls, but our strength is being an eclectic group. I think that brings a lot of visitors here.

As you get into your new position, what is one goal you have?

For the first year, it’s such a steep learning curve, because you’re really not going to be proficient until a whole year of all of these events. I’ve been going out and learning who the members are. It’s funny, the first thing I told my wife when I actually found where the office was, I said, “I’ve got a barber shop across the street; I haven’t had a barber shop since the Air Force. And we’ve got a shoe repair shop; I haven’t had one of those since I was in the Air Force.” This district is like what I grew up with in Montezuma. A little town in the ’60s with businesses around the square.

What’s a challenge you face?

You’re always limited by budget constraints. It’s a small association. I think we have less than 50 members. We have big plans to increase that number because there are a lot of potential members.

Do you still fly?

Between the motor home and lake home, there’s just not enough time. You’ve got to fly two or three times a week just to be proficient and safe. Plus, flying a Cessna is not quite the same as flying a supersonic jet aircraft.

How did you make your first dollar?