CIVIC LEADER, BUSINESSMAN TED ELIOPULOS DIES AT 80.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Longtime Lancaster businessman and civic leader Ted Eliopulos, who came from a pioneering Antelope Valley family, died early Thursday. He was 80.

Eliopulos, who was raised on a west Lancaster alfalfa farm and went on to work in real estate, had served on the Antelope Valley Fair board for 20 years.

``He personally was a strong business person and active in many areas of the community,'' said Lou Bozigian, a former Lancaster mayor who knew Eliopulos for 40 years. ``He will be missed. He definitely set the standard for those that follow him. He was a strong family man. We are losing a good dear friend and a lot of us are losing a personal friend.''

Eliopulos is survived by his wife of 43 years, Dixie, and sons Darth and Greg.

Funeral services are pending. Halley-Olsen-Murphy Funeral Home in Lancaster is in charge of arrangements.

Eliopulos attended the first Antelope Valley fairs as a boy and sat on its board from 1973 to 1993. His uncle, Gus Eliopulos, was on the first board in 1941.

Eliopulos' son, Darth, currently serves as vice president of the fair board. Eliopulos was grand marshal of the fair parade in 1997.

``We are very saddened by his passing,'' fair manager Dan Jacobs said. ``I've known Ted for a number of years. I always enjoyed seeing him. He was great to the fair. He donated the administration building at the old fairgrounds (which is named after Eliopulos and his wife).''

Eliopulos attended Esperanza Grammar School and Antelope Valley High School.

A World War II veteran, Eliopulos was a rancher until 1960, when he entered the real estate business. He owned and operated AVRE Land Co. He and his wife also owned Antelope Valley Escrow, Bozigian said.