Roto-Rooter, a wholly owned subsidiary of Chemed Corp., made its debut at the 2003 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., with the first interactive float race. The Roto-Rooter float, called "Bathtub Races," consisted of five bathtubs and one toilet "racing" 5 1/2 miles to the finish line at the parade's end.
Viewers were invited online to place a guess at who would win the race. One lucky voter who guessed the winning float -- Bathtub Racer No. 5 -- won a trip to the 2004 Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl. The winner, Susanne Hraboskey of Keansburg, N.J., was determined via random selection.