Lee Piester, a model rocket engineer, founded Centuri Engineering Company in 1961 and served as its president and CEO until 1976.

Leroy Edward "Lee" Piester was born on October 17, 1938 in Phoenix, Arizona to Grant E. Piester and Lorraine Martin. He grew up in Phoenix, attendeding West Phoenix High School. While in high school, Piester began machining parts for amateur rocketeers and through this work he financed his own rocketry projects. After graduating from high school in 1956, Piester attended Phoenix College and Arizona State University where he studied industrial engineering. His passion for rocketry continued, and for his senior thesis he wrote a comprehensive business plan for a model rocket company. This paper became the foundation of Centuri Engineering, and he officially founded the company in 1961.

In its early days, Centuri focused on selling rocket parts and later expanded into full kits and launch equipment. By the mid-1960s, Piester began designing and building his own engine-manufacturing machinery, bringing production in-house. During the early years of the model rocketry industry, Centuri and Estes companies had a friendly rivalry which encouraged technological innovation and development of creative designs. One of Centuri’s most iconic creations was the “Laser-X Space Probe” (#KC-50), which first appeared in 1969, the same year that NASA astronauts landed on the Moon. Its futuristic style went beyond the standard tube, fins, and nose cone designs.

Piester sold Centuri to Damon Corporation in 1971 but remained on as president and CEO until late 1976. Following his departure from Centuri, Piester by opened a retail hobby store with his wife Betty in May of 1976. "Hobby Bench" was located in Phoenix and eventually expanded to two other locations in Glendale and Prescott, Arizona.

In 1958 Piester married Betty Jean Carder, who would support his work over the years. As of 2026 Lee and Betty Piester were living in Phoenix, Arizona and continue to operate their hobby store.

Centuri Engineering Company was a model rocketry manufacturing company founded by Lee and Betty Piester in 1961.

In its early days, Centuri focused on selling rocket parts and later expanded into full kits and launch equipment. To meet customer demand for engines, Centuri initially partnered with Estes Industries and had an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement to sell Estes engines under the Centuri label. By the mid-1960s, the company began designing and building its own engine-manufacturing machinery, bringing production in-house. During the early years of the model rocketry industry, Centuri and Estes companies had a friendly rivalry which encouraged technological innovation and development of creative designs.

Centuri sold their parts and kits by mail thorugh catalog orders. Centuri's catalogs promised "the finest quality and best performing products available." They were known for creative and innovative designs, eventually producing more than 140 different kits. One of Centuri’s most iconic creations was the “Laser-X Space Probe” (#KC-50), which first appeared in 1969, the same year that NASA astronauts landed on the Moon. Its futuristic style went beyond the standard tube, fins, and nose cone designs. Centuri also produced models that recreated NASA rockets, such as the Saturn V.

In addition to its catalogs and manuals, Centuri published American Rocketeer, a magazine that provided company news, product information, educational materials, and advertising.

The Piesters sold Centuri to Damon Corporation in 1971 but Lee remainded on as president and CEO until late 1976. Damon had bought Estes a year and a half ealier. The Centuri model line was kept separate from the Estes line until 1983 when it was discontinued.