Gilbert Krause Retires After 22 Years on Carmine State Bank Board

After 22 years of dedicated service, Gilbert Krause officially retired from the Carmine State Bank Board of Directors on Saturday, July 12. Known for his exceptional commitment, Gilbert attended more than 500 board meetings over the years, missing only three—one due to a hospitalization.

A self-made businessman, Gilbert never attended high school, yet built a remarkable business in Giddings. Starting from his garage, he grew Kaemark into the third largest salon furniture manufacturer in the United States. He and his wife Dorothy eventually sold the company when ready for personal retirement. And now Kaemark has grown to become the largest salon manufacturer in the world, something Gilbert is very proud of.

Back in 1973, Gilbert hired Tim Weise— husband of The Fayette County Record’s Advertising Director, Becky Weise—when Tim was just 14 years old. Today, Tim continues working at Kaemark, marking over 52 years with the company.

Beyond his business suc-cess, Gilbert devoted himself to community service. He served on the Giddings City Council, acted as Mayor Pro Tem, and was named Citizen of the Year—further evidence of his leadership and dedication to the community.

Carmine State Bank, founded in 1907 is the 12th oldest state bank operating in Texas, maintaining the prestigious Bauer five-star rating. Bank President Chris Coufal honored Gilbert’s contributions with a retirement celebration held on the bank’s second floor. Gilbert’s wife Dorothy and daughters Lori Bradley and Lisa Gay—who is a correspondent for The Fayette County Record—joined many friends, colleagues, and community members in celebrating his service.

Tim and I were honored to attend the event, where many expressed their appreciation for Gilbert’s legacy of dedication, leadership, and service.