Dean Kruse
Encyclopedia
Dean V. Kruse is an auctioneer and owner and CEO of Kruse International
. Kruse started working in the local auction business founded by his father, Russell W. Kruse
, and soon became the company's president. Known to many as the "Dean of Auctioneers," Kruse is a well-respected member of the collector car hobby.
A 1957 graduate of the Reppert School of Auctioneering
in Decatur, Indiana
, Kruse cried his 5,000th auction in Houston in 1987, and is reportedly one of the youngest men to even attain that goal.
Kruse is a former Indiana State Senator, serving from 1966 to 1970, and was elected at the age of 25. He is a past president of the Indiana Auctioneer's Association, and a member of their hall of fame, along with his father Russell and brother Dennis Kruse
.
Dean was responsible for negotiating the purchase of his auction company in 1999 by online auctioneer eBay
which paid $275 million for Kruse International and Billpoint
. The company was purchased back from eBay by Dean Kruse in 2002. Kruse used part of the money he received from eBay to start two museums in Auburn; the World War II Victory Museum and the Kruse Automotive Horse Power and Carriage Museum.
On May 25, 2010, the Indiana Auctioneer Commission suspended Kruse's auctioneer's license for two years and permanently revoked the license of his company, Kruse, Inc., after receiving complaints that he had been failing to pay those who sold items through his auctions.
Kruse International
Kruse International is an auction firm founded by Russell Kruse in Auburn, Indiana in 1952. The company began as a local auction company selling real estate, farms and personal property run by Russell Kruse and his sons Dean, Dennis, and Daniel...
. Kruse started working in the local auction business founded by his father, Russell W. Kruse
Russell W. Kruse
Russell Wayne Kruse was an American auctioneer best known for building the business of auctioning classic cars through Kruse International....
, and soon became the company's president. Known to many as the "Dean of Auctioneers," Kruse is a well-respected member of the collector car hobby.
A 1957 graduate of the Reppert School of Auctioneering
Reppert School of Auctioneering
The Reppert School of Auctioneering is the world's leading auctioneer education provider, since 1921. It is located at the in Indianapolis, Indiana.- History :The Repperts School of Auctioneering was founded in 1921 by Col. Fred Reppert of Decatur, Indiana...
in Decatur, Indiana
Decatur, Indiana
Decatur is a city in Root and Washington townships, Adams County, Indiana, United States. The city, which serves as the county seat of Adams County, takes its name after the prominent war hero Stephen Decatur, Jr., one of the captains of the original 6 frigates of the US navy...
, Kruse cried his 5,000th auction in Houston in 1987, and is reportedly one of the youngest men to even attain that goal.
Kruse is a former Indiana State Senator, serving from 1966 to 1970, and was elected at the age of 25. He is a past president of the Indiana Auctioneer's Association, and a member of their hall of fame, along with his father Russell and brother Dennis Kruse
Dennis Kruse
Dennis K. Kruse is an auctioneer who was a founder of what became Kruse International. Dennis Kruse started working in the local auction business with his father, Russell W. Kruse, and older brother Dean Kruse. They were later joined by his younger brother Daniel J. Kruse, and started what would...
.
Dean was responsible for negotiating the purchase of his auction company in 1999 by online auctioneer eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
which paid $275 million for Kruse International and Billpoint
Billpoint
Billpoint was the name of a person-to-person money transfer service founded in 1998 and purchased in 1999 by online auctioneer eBay. Billpoint's website was taken offline while eBay integrated Billpoint into their auction service, and it did not reappear until the Spring of 2000 when it was...
. The company was purchased back from eBay by Dean Kruse in 2002. Kruse used part of the money he received from eBay to start two museums in Auburn; the World War II Victory Museum and the Kruse Automotive Horse Power and Carriage Museum.
On May 25, 2010, the Indiana Auctioneer Commission suspended Kruse's auctioneer's license for two years and permanently revoked the license of his company, Kruse, Inc., after receiving complaints that he had been failing to pay those who sold items through his auctions.