In the late 1970's, John M. Bowling went to purchase a stump grinder for his tree service business. At that time, his choices were limited, and the manufacturing lead-time was almost one complete calendar year. Unable to wait for delivery, John designed his own stump cutter, incorporating similar features of the most widely accepted model. His design, which became known as the RG 145, developed a following in the local market, and John moved from owning a tree service company to manufacturer/entrepreneur.