Community honor

QUINCY — Charles Sepulveda Sr., a longtime Quincy resident and volunteer, who Mayor Paul Worley said had a big impact on the community, was honored at the Quincy City Council meeting Tuesday.

“The ‘Pride of Quincy’ is an honor to remind people of someone from the community who’s really done something, participated and made Quincy a better place,” Worley said.

Sepulveda passed away in March. His wife Irma, son Charles Sepulveda Jr. and daughter Lisa Robertson accepted the award for him.

“I want to thank you guys on his behalf,” Worley said.

Council members and the audience gave Sepulveda’s memory a standing ovation in salute.

“Charlie Sepulveda - he was a city councilman for three years, a reserve policeman for six years, and he served on the civil service board for 27 years. He was very responsible for how our police department is now,” Worley said.

Sepulveda was involved in the interview process for hiring many Quincy Police Department officers, past and present, Worley said.

“He’s got a part on that plaque, and he’ll be up there forever. The Pride of Quincy,” he added.

Charles Sepulveda Jr. got a little choked up, and had to stop a couple of times during his tribute to his dad.

Charlie Sepulveda Sr. was a Texas native who came with his family to Quincy in 1959. Sepulveda Sr.’s father was a police officer in Texas, Sepulveda Jr. said, and working as a reserve QPD officer was a way for him to follow in his dad’s footsteps.

Sepulveda Sr. was employed by the Grant County PUD, and worked at Wanapum Dam. It takes about 45 minutes to get from the dam to Quincy, Sepulveda Jr. said, but Charlie Sepulveda Sr. always made sure to get to the meetings, whether they were city council or civil service. That meant he spent time away from his family, his son said, but he thought it was important.

Sepulveda also was a member of the Parish Council for the St. Pius X Catholic Church in Quincy, according to his obituary.

“We want to thank you on behalf of Dad, who’s not with us,” Sepulveda Jr. said.

The elder Sepulveda’s wife said her husband would have appreciated the recognition.

“He’s here,” Irma Sepulveda said.

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.