Ken Krueger

Ken Krueger (1926 - November 21, 2009) was an American publisher and retailer. Krueger co-founded and organized the first San Diego Comic-Con International convention, then called "San Diego's Golden State Comic-Con," in 1970.[1] Krueger co-created the annual convention with a group of San Diego friends, including Shel Dorf, Richard Alf and Mike Towry.[2]

Krueger was born in upstate New York.[3]He attended the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon)in 1939 in New York City, the first science fiction convention ever held.[4] Krueger originally owned the Ocean Beach bookstore in San Diego.[2]

Professionally, Krueger worked as a publisher, editor, and distributor for the comic and sci-fi industries.[1] Krueger published and released the first works of several science fiction and comic authors, including Greg Bear, Scott Shaw, Dave Stevens, and Jim Valentino.[1] Valentino later called Krueger "my mentor" in 2009.[3]

Krueger moved to Buffalo, New York, in 2002.[3] He and other co-founders were honored for their contributions by the San Diego Comic-Con International in 2009.[2]

Ken Krueger died of a heart attack on November 21, 2009 in Lockport, New York at the age 83, just eighteen days after the passing of fellow Comic-Con founder, Shel Dorf.[1][2][4][3] Krueger was survived by eight children.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Comic-Con co-creator Ken Krueger dies". BBC News. 2009-11-25. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Rowe, Peter (2012-01-05). "Richard Alf, 59, one of Comic-Con's founders". U-T San Diego. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Rowe, Peter (2009-11-26). "Ken Krueger; Ocean Beach bookstore was launching pad for Comic-Con". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Armitage, Hugh (2009-11-24). "Comic-Con founder Ken Krueger dies". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2012-01-07.

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