Chet Gulinski

Pioneer Category - Inducted 1997

The First Chet Gulinski Show was broadcast at 7:30 PM, Sunday, November 5, 1995. Since that time, many thousand Chet Gulinski Shows have been broadcast. Approaching its 43rd anniversary, The Chet Gulinski Show is broadcast Sunday's at 9:30 AM and at 11AM over WNDZ (750AM), a 5,000-watt station that can be heard in Chicago, all its suburbs, and large cities like Kenosha, Racine, Milwaukee, Rockford, South Bend, covering an area of approximately 200 miles from Chicago. The broadcast may be listened to in parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa. During the past years, The Chet Gulinski Show has been aired over many radio stations - WOPA, WOPA-FM, WTAQ, WBMX, WEAW, WYLO, WREN, WIVS, WAIT, WONX, WPNA, WVVX and WNDZ.

Chet Gulinski Shows were broadcast many times as remotes from the world renown Aragon Ballroom, Chicago's Lake Front Festival, Navy Pier, The 47th Street Free Fair, Tony Piet's Pontiac City, Delta Wholesale, Polonia Grove and Ballroom, Pulaski Village, Wozniak's Casino, Harmony Hall, Congress Ballroom, Lion's Ballroom, Maple Lanes, Polka Castle, Sportsman's Park, Lucy's Wisconsin Rendezvous and a great number of parish and picnic Festivals.

Chet Gulinski attended Five Holy Martyr's Grade School, Quigley Seminary, St. Joseph's High School, graduated from and received a degree from DePaul University. His earlier career included owning Ridge Prescription Pharmacy. He was a Field Representative for Rexall Drug Co., a Pharmaceutical Hospital Representative for E. R. Squibb & Sons. He was involved with three recording companies, Ampol, Mil-Poll, and Ridgemoor, and was the President of the latter.

Chet was and continues to be active with his son Chris promoting Polka Tours with Action Tours & Travel since 1972 including Festivals, Cruises, Hawaii, European Destinations etc., He was a Director in the IPA on two occasions and a Director in UPA International. He is the President of the Senior Polka Association South and North organized in 1982, President of the Brickyard Seniors and the PRCUA. Seniors, Chet is married to Evelyn. They have four children - Chris with a Masters Degree from Marquette University, he assists with the broadcasts and manages Action Tours, Dr. Adrian, and Dr. Daniel--both dentists--and Renee, who has a Masters Degree in Psychology from the University of Chicago.

Chet's career varied. He was a Sales Manager for Radio Stations WGLD< WOPA and WPNA. He and Chris produced a TV Show on Channel 44, later on Channel 26. He was a Staff Announcer for WTAQ and WOPA. Chet was instrumental in the purchase of WPNA by the Polish National Alliance in 1987. His efforts resulted in programs that brought Marion Lush, Lucy Bartoszewski, Emilie Richards, Bob Maczko, and Joe Walega to WPNA.

He hosted a Monday thru Friday Morning three Hour Polka Show on WPNA until 1992.

Until his death, Chet's broadcasts fostered quality and professionalism. His broadcasts were recorded in his own studios where he has a collection of over 3,500 albums, cassettes, and CD's, and over eighty plaques and awards a fitting testimonial for his broadcasting contribution.