Russell W. Kruse
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Russell W. Kruse | |
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Auctioneer |
Russell Wayne Kruse (December 9, 1922 – May 4, 2007) was an American
Born in Auburn, Indiana, he took up farming after graduating from high school. After losing crops to flooding two years in a row, he took up auctioneering to cover the costs of raising his seven children. He attended the Reppert School of Auctioneering in December 1952 and started a local real estate and farm auction business. He was a licensed auctioneer, real estate broker and certified residential appraiser in the state of Indiana.[2]
In 1971, the Auburn Chamber of Commerce needed fundraising for their annual classic-car show. Kruse suggested auctioning off some of the antique cars. When a bidder's $61,000 bid for a locally-made Duesenberg was turned down, the press picked up the story, and his fame as a car auctioneer took off. He started the Kruse Auction Institute in 1972 to give pre-licensing training to auctioneers. Russell was on the original Indiana Board of Auctioneers and served as chairman. He was also a past president of the Indiana Auctioneer's Association, and a member of their hall of fame,[3] along with two of his son's - Dean Kruse and Dennis Kruse.
Because of the lucrative divisions that auctioned
His first wife, Luella (Boger), the mother of his seven children, died in 2000. Kruse died in Fort Wayne, Indiana of a stroke, aged 84.[4]
References
- ^ Kurtz, Dave (May 6, 2007). "Kruse raised family that made its mark". FW Daily News[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Verification".
- ^ Indiana Auctioneers Association Archived 2010-01-19 at the Wayback Machine
- New York Times
External links
- Kruse International
- Reppert School of Auctioneering's official website
- Kruse Auction Institute's official website