Guide to the Eppie's Great Race and Eppie Johnson collection MS0160
Kim Hayden
Center for Sacramento History
2022
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Center for Sacramento History
Title: Eppie's Great Race and Eppie Johnson collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS0160
Physical Description:
9.6 Linear Feet
(3 oversized boxes, 1 half-manuscript box, 2 unboxed scrapbooks)
Date (inclusive): 1974-2015
Abstract: The collection primarily documents Eppie's Great Race almost entirely through scrapbooks dating from 1974 through 2015. It
also documents the race's creator, Eppaminondas "Eppie" Johnson, who was a Sacramento restaurateur and philanthropist. The
scrapbooks contain programs, photographs, clippings, and other items related to Johnson and the race.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests to publish or quote from private manuscripts held by the Center for Sacramento History (CSH) must be submitted
in writing to csh@cityofsacrmento.org. Permission for publication is given on behalf of CSH as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the patron.
No permission is necessary to publish or quote from public records.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and/or item number], [box and folder number], Eppie Johnson and Eppie's Great Race collection, MS0160,
Center for Sacramento History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Eppie's Wellness Foundation in 2022 (accession number 2022/053)
Biographical / Historical
Eppaminondas "Eppie" Johnson was a Sacramento restaurateur, philanthropist, and the creator of Eppie's Great Race. He was
born in Astoria, New York, on May 7, 1928, to Greek immigrant parents George and Anastasia "Fotini" (Mousmoules) Johnson.
After his parents divorced, Johnson's father moved to Reno, and then to Sacramento in 1947 where he opened the Del Prado restaurant
on Stockton Boulevard and was a well-known restaurateur and philanthropist. Johnson attended New York University and University
of Nevada in Reno then joined the army. After he was discharged, he moved to Sacramento in 1950 and began working in the Del
Prado with his father. Johnson began a catering company, then in 1964, opened his first restaurant, Eppie's, at 3001 N Street.
This was the first of many Eppie's in a chain of restaurants Johnson opened throughout Northern California and Nevada. He
later opened restaurants in Sacramento and Stockton called Eppaminondas. He also purchased tennis clubs in Davis and Sacramento.
Johnson was known for his advertising gimmicks, one of which kicked off the annual Eppie's Great Race triathlon along the
American River Parkway in 1974. Created as a running/biking/kayaking race that would begin at one of Johnson's restaurants
and end at another, the race became an annual event that raised over $1 million for Therapeutic Recreation Services in its
44 years. It was replaced by the Great American Triathlon in 2018.
Scope and Contents
The collection primarily documents Eppie's Great Race almost entirely through scrapbooks dating from 1974 through 2015. These
scrapbooks include programs, fliers, photos, clippings, and other material related to the race.
There is also a scrapbook dedicated to Eppie Johnson's life and career with photographs, clippings, and other items from around
1960 to 1979. Also included in the collection are a program from Johnson's funeral and memorial resolutions.
The collection is arranged alphabetically.
box 4, folder 6
California State Senate memorial resolution for Eppie Johnson
2013
box 4, folder 4
Eppie Johnson funeral program
2013
Volume Eppie scrapbook
Eppie Johnson scrapbook
ca. 1960-1979
box 3
Eppie's Great Race posters
2015
box 4, folder 3
Eppie's Great Race programs
2003, 2012-2015
box 1
Eppie's Great Race scrapbook
1974-1986
box 2
Eppie's Great Race scrapbook
1987-1994
Volume Great Race scrapbook 2005
Eppie's Great Race scrapbook
1995-2005
box 3
Eppie's Great Race scrapbook
2006-2012
box 3
Eppie's Great Race scrapbook
2013-2015
box 4, folder 7
Sacramento County Board of Supervisors resolution for "Eppie's Great Race Week"
2017
box 3
Sacramento News & Review advertising supplement for Eppie's Great Race
2015
box 4, folder 5
Sympathy letter from Doris Matsui to Johnson family
2013
Drawer A-8
Two medals from 41st race
2014
