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Kum & Go founder W.A. "Bill" Krause dies
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Scott Brady
Jun 19, 2013, 10:18:29 PM6/19/13
to
Jun. 19, 2013 6:26 PM
Written by
Patt Johnson
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130619/NEWS/130618046/Kum-Go-founder-W-A-Bill-Krause-dies
W.A. “Bill” Krause, an entrepreneur who created one of the largest convenience store chains in the Midwest, Kum & Go, died this morning at his home in the Glen Oaks neighborhood of West Des Moines. He was 78.
Krause is credited with helping pioneer the convenience store format in 1959, when he started selling milk, bread and eggs at a gas station and car wash. He built that single store into a chain that rivals the biggest in the nation.
“He ranks among the best businessmen in Des Moines,” said developer William C. Knapp.
Krause and his wife, Nancy, continuously provided financial support for University of Iowa athletics, including a $5 million donation for renovation of Kinnick Stadium. Among other accolades, Krause received a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2000. He established the Krause Challenge, an investment competition among the state’s four largest universities. He also served on the university’s Tippie College of Business Advisory Board.
“Bill Krause has provided advice and counsel to myself and two other deans before me. Our college is in a better place thanks to his guidance and support,” said Sarah Gardial, dean. Bill Krause established the Krause Fund in 1998, which has provided more than 1,200 Iowa undergraduate students with the opportunity to learn about managing an endowed equity portfolio, she said.
“Bill Krause’s influence will be felt for decades as the Krause Fund continues to have a positive influence on Iowa business students,” she said.
Krause grew up dirt poor on a farm near Hampton and later Eldora. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1957, the same year he served as manager of the school’s football team and the Hawkeyes competed in the Rose Bowl. His loyalty to the school’s sports teams was unwavering, said his friend Steve Zumbach, a Des Moines lawyer.
“Bill was completely committed to Iowa athletics whether they were winning or losing,” Zumbach said.
Krause went into business with his father-in-law T.S. Gentle, creating the Hampton Oil Co. and establishing his first gas station in 1959. Since then, the company has grown to include 420 stores in 11 states. Krause’s company grew to include other offshoots like Solar Transport bulk fuel transportation, Amici Espresso and Liberty Bank.
His other business ventures included owning private colleges, minor league sports teams, farmland and a clothing store.
Krause is survived by his wife, Nancy; son Kevin W. (Mary) Krause of West Des Moines; son Kyle J. (Sharon) Krause of Booneville; daughter Kate (David) Prange of Chicago; and 12 grandchildren: Ryan, A.J., Tanner, Morgan, Elliott, Bo, Oliver, Emily, Ellen, Connor, Amelia and Maeve.
(The name Kum & Go was derived from initials of the founders, Krause and Gentle.)
Written by
Patt Johnson
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130619/NEWS/130618046/Kum-Go-founder-W-A-Bill-Krause-dies
W.A. “Bill” Krause, an entrepreneur who created one of the largest convenience store chains in the Midwest, Kum & Go, died this morning at his home in the Glen Oaks neighborhood of West Des Moines. He was 78.
Krause is credited with helping pioneer the convenience store format in 1959, when he started selling milk, bread and eggs at a gas station and car wash. He built that single store into a chain that rivals the biggest in the nation.
“He ranks among the best businessmen in Des Moines,” said developer William C. Knapp.
Krause and his wife, Nancy, continuously provided financial support for University of Iowa athletics, including a $5 million donation for renovation of Kinnick Stadium. Among other accolades, Krause received a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2000. He established the Krause Challenge, an investment competition among the state’s four largest universities. He also served on the university’s Tippie College of Business Advisory Board.
“Bill Krause has provided advice and counsel to myself and two other deans before me. Our college is in a better place thanks to his guidance and support,” said Sarah Gardial, dean. Bill Krause established the Krause Fund in 1998, which has provided more than 1,200 Iowa undergraduate students with the opportunity to learn about managing an endowed equity portfolio, she said.
“Bill Krause’s influence will be felt for decades as the Krause Fund continues to have a positive influence on Iowa business students,” she said.
Krause grew up dirt poor on a farm near Hampton and later Eldora. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1957, the same year he served as manager of the school’s football team and the Hawkeyes competed in the Rose Bowl. His loyalty to the school’s sports teams was unwavering, said his friend Steve Zumbach, a Des Moines lawyer.
“Bill was completely committed to Iowa athletics whether they were winning or losing,” Zumbach said.
Krause went into business with his father-in-law T.S. Gentle, creating the Hampton Oil Co. and establishing his first gas station in 1959. Since then, the company has grown to include 420 stores in 11 states. Krause’s company grew to include other offshoots like Solar Transport bulk fuel transportation, Amici Espresso and Liberty Bank.
His other business ventures included owning private colleges, minor league sports teams, farmland and a clothing store.
Krause is survived by his wife, Nancy; son Kevin W. (Mary) Krause of West Des Moines; son Kyle J. (Sharon) Krause of Booneville; daughter Kate (David) Prange of Chicago; and 12 grandchildren: Ryan, A.J., Tanner, Morgan, Elliott, Bo, Oliver, Emily, Ellen, Connor, Amelia and Maeve.
(The name Kum & Go was derived from initials of the founders, Krause and Gentle.)
Brad Ferguson
Jun 19, 2013, 10:29:01 PM6/19/13
to
In article <c5025ce8-dbab-4cdd...@googlegroups.com>,
Scott Brady <sbra...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> (The name Kum & Go was derived from initials of the founders, Krause and
> Gentle.)
Oh. I thought it was one of those '70s things.
> (The name Kum & Go was derived from initials of the founders, Krause and
> Gentle.)
Bermuda999
Jun 19, 2013, 10:54:32 PM6/19/13
to
On Wednesday, June 19, 2013 10:18:29 PM UTC-4, Scott Brady wrote:
> Jun. 19, 2013 6:26 PM
> Written by
> Patt Johnson
...
> Jun. 19, 2013 6:26 PM
> Written by
> Patt Johnson
>
> W.A. “Bill” Krause, an entrepreneur who created one of the largest convenience store chains in the Midwest, Kum & Go, died this morning at his home in the Glen Oaks neighborhood of West Des Moines. He was 78.
>
> Krause is credited with helping pioneer the convenience store format in 1959, when he started selling milk, bread and eggs at a gas station and car wash. He built that single store into a chain that rivals the biggest in the nation.
...for values of "rivals" that include "the 23rd-largest convenience store chain in the US"
> W.A. “Bill” Krause, an entrepreneur who created one of the largest convenience store chains in the Midwest, Kum & Go, died this morning at his home in the Glen Oaks neighborhood of West Des Moines. He was 78.
>
> Krause is credited with helping pioneer the convenience store format in 1959, when he started selling milk, bread and eggs at a gas station and car wash. He built that single store into a chain that rivals the biggest in the nation.
Message has been deleted
R H Draney
Jun 20, 2013, 12:42:54 AM6/20/13
to
Brad Ferguson filted:
Back before Circle K and 7-Eleven took over pretty much the whole market
segment, I noticed that people referred to convenience stores by whatever brand
existed in the town they had moved from...even though the ones in Seattle were
"Stop 'n' Go", our next-door neighbors insisted on calling them "Handy Pantry",
and I'm sure we later inflicted "Stop 'n' Go" on the "Snappy Mart" chain when we
moved to New Mexico....
Snappy Mart had "Slush Puppie" for their frozen drink line...a friend of mine
once asked what the blue flavor was supposed to be (red was obviously either
cherry or strawberry, green was lime, orange was orange, etc, but there was no
obvious assumption for blue)...told that it was coconut, he always insisted on
grabbing a blue one every weekend before we went off four-wheeling....
Years later I was back in Snappy Mart territory with my then-girlfriend and
decided to treat the both of us to a blue Slush Puppie...the flavors had
apparently changed in the fifteen years in between, because the only flavor I
could identify was kerosene....r
--
Me? Sarcastic?
Yeah, right.
segment, I noticed that people referred to convenience stores by whatever brand
existed in the town they had moved from...even though the ones in Seattle were
"Stop 'n' Go", our next-door neighbors insisted on calling them "Handy Pantry",
and I'm sure we later inflicted "Stop 'n' Go" on the "Snappy Mart" chain when we
moved to New Mexico....
Snappy Mart had "Slush Puppie" for their frozen drink line...a friend of mine
once asked what the blue flavor was supposed to be (red was obviously either
cherry or strawberry, green was lime, orange was orange, etc, but there was no
obvious assumption for blue)...told that it was coconut, he always insisted on
grabbing a blue one every weekend before we went off four-wheeling....
Years later I was back in Snappy Mart territory with my then-girlfriend and
decided to treat the both of us to a blue Slush Puppie...the flavors had
apparently changed in the fifteen years in between, because the only flavor I
could identify was kerosene....r
--
Me? Sarcastic?
Yeah, right.
Scott Brady
Jun 20, 2013, 1:20:58 AM6/20/13
to
On Wednesday, June 19, 2013 11:42:54 PM UTC-5, R H Draney wrote:
> Back before Circle K and 7-Eleven took over pretty much the whole market
> segment, I noticed that people referred to convenience stores by whatever brand
> existed in the town they had moved from...even though the ones in Seattle were
> "Stop 'n' Go", our next-door neighbors insisted on calling them "Handy Pantry",
> and I'm sure we later inflicted "Stop 'n' Go" on the "Snappy Mart" chain when we
> moved to New Mexico....
The Erickson brothers pioneered the "station store" concept in the Upper Midwest, and years after they became Holiday stores, my mother insisted on calling them "Erickson Stations."
> Back before Circle K and 7-Eleven took over pretty much the whole market
> segment, I noticed that people referred to convenience stores by whatever brand
> existed in the town they had moved from...even though the ones in Seattle were
> "Stop 'n' Go", our next-door neighbors insisted on calling them "Handy Pantry",
> and I'm sure we later inflicted "Stop 'n' Go" on the "Snappy Mart" chain when we
> moved to New Mexico....
Before evolving into a typical convenience store chain, they sold everything, with an emphasis on sporting goods. My brother got his first bicycle there, and my first baseball glove was a Holiday.
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