K-State remembers the late Bob Krause as a builder, visionary

MANHATTAN — Kansas State University officials remembered the late Bob Krause as a man who played a major role in some of the school's biggest recent development projects – including the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility – on its Manhattan and satellite campuses.

Krause, K-State's vice president for institutional advancement for 23 years, died Wednesday at the age of 70 after a battle with cancer.

"Bob was instrumental in helping K-State strategically grow in many ways over his tenure as a longtime university administrator,” said Kirk Schulz, K-State president.

“The Biosecurity Research Institute, NBAF, Colbert Hills Golf Course, the leadership studies program and Salina and Olathe campuses are examples of his impact. He was a wonderfully successful university ambassador to our alumni and community.”

Amy Button Renz, president and CEO of the K-State Alumni Association, remembered Krause for his efforts in developing alumni contacts and boosting K-State's enrollment during a period of declining numbers in the late 1980s when he arrived in Manhattan as an assistant to school president Jon Wefald.

“He was vital to elevating K-State to new heights,” Renz said. “Most memorable is the personal connections he made with prospective students and their families, which in turn positively impacted enrollment at a crucial time in our history.”

Wefald, KSU president from 1986-2009, remembered Krause for a work ethic he described as “legendary.”

“He had an uncanny ability to solve problems,” Wefald said in a statement.

“He was a team player. He had incredible passion and loyalty. He had a tremendous sense of humor. Whether it was the job of increasing our enrollment at Kansas State, supporting the football program and Bill Snyder, figuring out ways to enhance our athletic complex for all sports, or working closely with our students, Bob Krause was, in my mind, a Most Valuable Player for K-State during my 23 years as K-State's president."

In his last year at the school, Krause was named acting athletics director. He was forced to resign in 2009 after a controversy involving a secret contract providing an increased buyout for then-head football coach Ron Prince. K-State filed a lawsuit to invalidate the agreement and ultimately paid Prince $1.65 million in a settlement.

Krause then became director of development at K-State’s campus in Olathe.