Chet Krause founded the Iola-based publishing company Krause Publications in 1952 working out of his parent’s home in Iola. In 1964, after 12 years of growth, the company was organized as a corporate business and built its first office building in 1957 at the corner of Water Street and North Washington Street (now Chet Krause Drive).

Though Krause died June 25, 2016 his legacy continues.

Three of the Historic Iola program’s eight markers are tied directly to Krause’s business and community involvement: No. 3: The Birthplace of Numismatic News, No. 4: The Birthplace of the Iola Old Car Show, and now No. 8: Krause Publications – The Early Years.

The unveiling dedication of Historic Iola Marker No. 8, Krause Publications – The Early Days, took place at the office building at 160 North Chet Krause Drive, Iola, on Oct. 13. About 40 attendees included Iola Historical Society members, family and friends of Krause, former and current Krause Publications employees (now known as FW Media) and Iola Car Show staff.

The office building is now owned and mostly occupied as the office of the Iola Car Show, which Krause started in 1971.

The dedication included opening remarks by Greg Loescher, chairman of the Historic Iola marker program, on how the marker program began, and Cliff Mishler, Krause’s longtime right-hand man at Krause Publications and president of the Iola Historical Society, who talked about his recollections of those early days of Krause Publications.

The marker was unveiled by John Gillespie, founder of Rawhide Boys Ranch outside New London, and Mishler. Krause was a good friend of Gillespie’s and donated heavily to Rawhide, and was also friends with Rawhide spokesperson and Green Bay Packers great Bart Starr.

“Next to Bart Starr, Chet is the person who provided the most help to Rawhide getting on a sound business footing in the early years and thereafter,” Gillespie said. “He became a business mentor and second father to me. I sure loved and appreciated him.”

The Historic Iola marker program debuted in 2010 with the unveiling of No. 1 for the Iola Winter Sports Club’s 100th anniversary. Historic Iola No. 9, slated for unveiling and dedication at the Iola Winter Carnival in February 2017, is for Schoolhouse Hill, the location of Iola’s first ski jump built in 1910. The program has a goal of about 25 markers.

For more information or to view a complete listing of the Historic Iola markers with locations, visit www.iolahistoricalsociety.org.