FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 28, 2004
Contact: Nelson Holmberg (nelson@noslencommunication.com) (360) 521-1590

Little Falls Native Finds “Fame” in R/C Unlimiteds

RICHLAND, Wash. — Little Falls, Minnesota’s own Chet Lepinski has found “Fame” in R/C Unlimiteds.

Lepinski, 65, a 1957 graduate of Little Falls High School, has been inducted into the R/C Unlimiteds Hall of Fame.

R/C Unlimiteds is a club dedicated to duplicating the sport of unlimited hydroplane racing as closely as possible, and Lepinski does that with the 1979 version of the Miss Tri-Cities hydroplane. But he also does it away from the race course.

As the club’s treasurer, Lepinski also makes sure that R/C Unlimiteds is fiscally stable in all aspects. In fact, when he became treasurer in 1999, the club had a reserve fund of less than $1,500. It now has nearly four times that in reserve.

Lepinski works tirelessly behind the scenes for the club’s benefit. Two years ago, he worked throughout the winter to bring Oberto Sausage Company (Kent, Wash.) on board as the club’s sponsor for one year. After the 2003 season, Oberto renewed the sponsorship for two more years.

For all of his hard work, Lepinski was included in the club’s inaugural Hall of Fame class of 2003. He was inducted under the outstanding contribution category.

And he’s kept it up. This year he spent the winter selling more than $3,000 in advertising so that the club could produce its first race program since 1997. He also sells Oberto products and R/CU race products during the race weekends; while he also makes sure he’s maintaining and preparing his boat for his assigned heats. He also coordinates all the details for three of R/CU’s 15 races.

“I’m very proud to have been placed in the Hall of Fame by my peers,” Lepinski said. “Being recognized by the guys means more to me than any race win or on-the-course achievement ever could. It’s all about respect.”

His willingness to help anyone with anything, provide an encouraging word, or catch a fellow racer off guard with a well-timed joke and provide a smile is respected by all of his fellow racers. There may not be a more popular member of the club. In fact, he has earned the nickname “Chet the Jet” from his fellow racers. At a race earlier this season, his racing friends even threw an impromptu birthday celebration for him when he turned 65.

Born in Little Falls in 1939, Lepinski stayed there until 1963 when he left to begin his professional career. In less than one year, he will retire from his position as treasurer at Grand Coulee Hydropower Project Authority (Ephrata, Wash.) where he has worked for 23 years. He has lived in the southeastern Washington city of Richland (one of the Tri-Cities) since 1964. After his employer moved from the Tri-Cities to Ephrata, some 104 miles away, Lepinski chose to remain with the company and keep his family’s roots in Richland, so he commutes to Ephrata (almost an hour and a quarter each direction) every day.

Even today, Lepinski remains in contact with family and friends in Little Falls. He even reads the local paper online every day. In retirement, Lepinski plans to spend time with his wife of 39 years, Sandy, and work around the house. The two also hope to travel to places they’ve never been. Chet and Sandy have three children, Brian, Brenda, and Jackie.

— R/CU —

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