One piece at a time

It may take him days to complete a 1,000-piece puzzle, but it's something he enjoys.

For Roger Stamper, a self-proclaimed staunch Democrat, creating beautiful American-themed puzzles has become a favorite pass time.

Stamper is often seen at Sage View Care Center, sitting with puzzle pieces scattered in front of him. He takes his time finding just the right piece before trying to put it in place.

Stamper, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, is a double-leg amputee and a veteran, has been in ill health, his personal assistant Debbie Callas said.

He first displayed his puzzle work at the Sweetwater County Fair this past summer, she said.

"The fair was a big deal and this is his legacy," Callas said.

It was sometime after the fair, when he thought it would be a good idea to donate his artwork to the county.

"This means everything to him," Callas said.

Over the years, Stamper had completed hundreds of puzzles of various themes, including wildlife and nature scenes and western cowboys. However, his absolute favorite is American-themed puzzles.

"He does a lot of puzzles," Callas said. "This is Roger's job. He loves it."

"It's why they call me master puzzle," Stampers said with a laugh.

He also is willing to put puzzles together upon request and donate them to organizations, such as the Rock Springs Youth Home.

"Any organization or group that would like a certain puzzle, you're welcome to ask for it," Stamper said.

Stamper usually builds puzzles out of 1,000-piece puzzle sets, which he and Callas generally order online. Depending on the size, it usually takes Stamper seven to 10 days to complete them.

"I tried a larger one before Christmas of a 2,000-piece puzzle. It was a very large one and it took about a month," Stamper said.

After he completed that large puzzle, he went back to the 1,000-piece puzzles.

"It serves me by having something to do," Stamper said. "It exercises me with my hands, with my body and with my brain."

Callas said this activity keeps him busy and it really benefits him.

"It's a lot better doing something like that than sitting in my room staring at my wall," Stamper said.

He had to admit that although he enjoys the American-themed puzzles, his favorite puzzles, which are hanging on his wall at his home, are of John Wayne.

The County Donation

During the Sweetwater County Commissioners' meeting last week, Stamper presented the county with several American-themed puzzles depicting various important landmarks or historical events, including the signing of the Bill of Rights and the preamble of U.S. Constitution.

"Roger's a veteran, so he love's America," Callas said.

Stamper wanted to donate the puzzles to the Sweetwater County Museum, however the puzzles didn't fit under the scope of collections the museum has since they are artwork and don't have any significant historical relevance, museum director Brie Blasi said.

She said if the county wanted to display them at the museum, she could put them on a short-term loan and display them.

Commissioner Wally Johnson said the county will still accept them and utilize the museum to help display them and the puzzles would make great artwork for the new justice center.

"This fits very nicely for Sweetwater County," Johnson said.

He said the commissioners are merely the middle group accepting a donation from one resident to all Sweetwater County residents.

The commissioners voted unanimously to accept the puzzles as donations.