Hrepich Park
SIZE	1.5 Acres
LOCATION	8620 Black Kite Drive (south of), West of Aviary Woods Way (ELK GROVE/WEST VINEYARD)
PARK FEATURES	Open Play Area Playground Equipment Shade Structure Picnic Area/Tables Benches
COMPLETED	1998
BIOGRAPHY	Son of William and Agnes Hrepich, Paul Hrepich was born in Sacramento and raised at the family's Elk Grove dairy ranch. He attended Elk Grove Union Grammar School and in 1943 graduated from Elk Grove Union High School. Dorothy, daughter of Ruth and Harry Jordan, was born in Elk Grove and raised in Wilton. She attended Lee School, Elder Creek Elementary School and graduated from Elk Grove Union High School in 1944. At Elk Grove Union High School, Dorothy and Paul met and began dating. "It was love at first sight", said Paul. They wed in 1946 in Carson City, Nevada. From 1934 to 1989, the Hrepich Family owned and operated the Royal Oaks Dairy, located at the present site of the Elk Grove Auto Mall. As a youth and young adult, Paul spent a considerable amount of time working with his father on the dairy, milking and tending to the cows. It was on the dairy ranch that Paul and Dorothy raised their five children - Kathy, Diane, Cindy, Vincent and Angela. At 18 years old, Paul began his career in school bus transportation, working as a bus driver for the Elk Grove Unified School District. "I was always in love with buses," said Paul. During that time, Paul often doubled as reserve deputy sheriff, helping to patrol Elk Grove and providing security at Elk Grove High School sports games. In 1970, Paul became an instructor for the California Highway Patrol Academy for school bus drivers, where he organized the first official driver's training program for instructors. He then served for 19 years as Director of Transportation Safety for the Elk Grove Unified School District, developing the school district's transportation department. Later, Paul became the Transportation Manager for the Sacramento County Office of Education. Dorothy has served as vice president of the Elk Grove Historical Society. She is a member of the Elk Grove Art Club, the Wilton Garden Club and has sewn costumes for the Elk Grove Strauss Festival. In 1963, Dorothy was elected the first president of the Joseph Kerr Middle School Parent-Teacher Association, and in 1987, she was named Elk Grove Citizen of the Year. Paul was a member of the Rhoads Schoolhouse Board of Directors, Knights of Columbus, Elk Grove Optimists International, Friends of the Library board of directors and the Elk Grove Historical Society. He also volunteered at the Elk Grove Strauss Festival, the Special Olympics, Project RIDE, and during elections, as a county clerk. The couple has been very involved with activities at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, where Dorothy once taught Sunday School and is the past president of the church women's group. They also volunteer for SHARE (Self-Help and Resource Exchange) at St. Christopher's Catholic Church in Galt. For over 10 years, they have helped support a poverty-stricken Mississippi family through an organization called Box Project. They have also been members of the Christian Appalachian Project, a missionary-type group that assists poor Kentucky families with basic necessities and education. The couple lives in Wilton and have twelve grandchildren. When not busy volunteering, they enjoy gardening and traveling throughout the world.
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