Roundup Record Features Local Business Owner Rick Carlson

Many people in Roundup know Rick, and if they don't know him, they have at least heard of his business, Elite Tune and Lube. Elite Tune and Lube at 106 1st St East in Roundup, is a successful towing and repair business in Roundup that not only serves our community here in Musselshell county, but has gone far and wide throughout Montana. For example, this summer I had called Elite, and Kathleen had the tow truck clear up at Malta. Those of us who frequently hit deer know Rick and his crew all to well.

Rick's mother, who was born in Billings, headed toward the coast after graduating. Rick was born in Everett Washington, and lived most of his young life near Seattle. Rick had family in Roundup that he would visit as a child. His grandfather was a cowboy and rancher, and Rick would come out to Roundup in the summers and "get in his way". When Rick graduated from High School, he had a couple of odd jobs and traveled for about a year after which his intention was to go into the Army. The Army told him to "go home and think about it and if he was serious to come back in the morning and they would sign him up". He went home and got a call from his uncle Orville Moore, a crop duster who ran an operation out of the airport here at Roundup. He told Rick that he needed a ground crew," someone I can train as a mechanic", and he said " Why don't you come back here and help me out?" Rick told him he kind of wanted to join the army, to which his uncle replied, "come work for me for a year and if you don't like it and it doesn't work out you can always join the military at 19".

He began turning wrenches on aircraft for the next five years. Then he worked for Cliff Faucett for three years as a carpenter. In 1996 Rick opened Elite Tune and Lube and has been a self-employed business owner ever since.

Rick was involved in the Community play for several years, he loves off road bikes and firearms when he has free time. Rick doesn't have much free time though, as his business is thriving. Between him and his four employees, he is always busy. The shop, he says, keeps steady business, but the Towing is usually busiest during extreme weather.

Rick told me, "You judge a business not by how it is going when everything is going right, but how it is going when things go wrong. Roundup is a small town and its hard to stay here. If you can find something that benefits yourself and others that is a good thing. You do your best to take care of people in a small town."

It is nice to remember the many people doing great things in our community. Thank you Rick.