Ed. F. Kruse of Blue Bell Creameries

This biography of ice cream entrepreneur Ed. F. Kruse looks backon a life devoted to family, community, and building one of themost successful businesses in Texas.

Since starting at Blue Bell Creameries at the age of thirteen, Kruse has held every position imaginable at the company, eventually becoming president and chief executive officer. Under his guidance, Blue Bell grew from a creamery serving the small communities around Brenham, Texas, to a nationally recognized brand available in twenty-two states.

Dorothy MacInerney takes readers behind the scenes at the littlecreamery in Brenham. She reveals the hard work, persistence, anddedication that went into building not only Blue Bell Creameries,but also Kruse’s reputation as a tireless worker on behalf of theplace where he was born and raised, the people whom he gatheredaround him at his company, and the home he so clearly treasuredabove everything else. This is an authentic Texas success story of aman and his guiding principles-and the generosity that compelshim to share his success with others.

After retiring, the late Kruse still retained a seat on the boardof directors, giving him seventy-four years of experience atBlue Bell Creameries.