Jeno Paulucci was born in Aurora to Italian immigrants. After moving to Hibbing, he showed he was a natural-born salesman hawking iron ore samples to tourists. Paulucci even tried selling some to President Coolidge when he came to town. “When his car stopped, I ran over to try to sell him some ore samples, I used to have different samples in vials but the secret service wouldn’t let me nearby him,” Paulucci said in an interview with news legend Michelle Lee many years ago.

Paulucci picked up a taste for Asian food during World War II service in the Pacific but he found it a bit bland. Back home, he added Italian seasoning and Chun King was born. “Chun King Chow Mein, what?, Chun King Chow Mein!” a Chun King commercial in the early 50s went.