KLAUER, William J.

1999 photograph courtesy: Telegraph Herald

KLAUER, William J. (Dubuque, IA, February 15, 1909--Feb. 21, 2001). Beginning in 1933 Klauer was associated with KLAUER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, the firm started by his grandfather, Peter KLAUER. He began work as a buyer and later became a factory superintendent. This was the position he held until 1964 when he became president of the company upon the death of his brother, Walter E. KLAUER. (1)

Klauer served as a director of AMERICAN TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK and the DUBUQUE AND WISCONSIN BRIDGE COMPANY. Klauer and his wife provided many scholarships to all three city colleges. He supported dozens of organizations including the COLTS DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS, DUBUQUE BOYS' CLUB, DUBUQUE VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION and the American Red Cross. He was the oldest living member of the DUBUQUE SHOOTING SOCIETY Club 33 and was a member of the DUBUQUE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ELKS CLUB, and the KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Council 510. He organized the Squires Euchre Club in 1950. (2)

Klauer spent ten years and thousands of dollars relocating his company when the State Department of Transportation announced the location of relocated U.S. 61 through part of the company plant on 9th Street. Eventually over twelve acres were purchased on the Roosevelt Street Extension in the second of the Dubuque's INDUSTRIAL PARKS.

Klauer was awarded the Outstanding Individual Philanthropist award by the Eastern Iowa Chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising. By appointment, he was a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and was honored for his outstanding support by the Indiana Province Congregation of Holy Cross. The "W. J. Klauer Campus" at the University of New Mexico, Taos was named in his honor. He received an honorary degree "Doctor of Laws" from LORAS COLLEGE. (3)

In 1919, Klauer Manufacturing began acquiring land in New Mexico, when William H. KLAUER was able to purchase the Gijosa Spanish land grant. (4) By 2001, the company owned approximately 9,800 acres of vacant land in Taos County, south of the Town of Taos, New Mexico. (5) William J. Klauer was the family member most directly involved with the land purchases. Included in the 9,800 acres of land were approximately 2,581 acres known as the Taos Valley Overlook (Taos Overlook), from which an individual could view the Rio Grande Gorge and the Rio Grande River. (6)

The Klauer family felt that the Taos Overlook should be preserved from commercial development. Before 2001, Klauer Manufacturing leased for $1 annually approximately 700 acres of the Taos Overlook to the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (Bureau of Land Management), which owned property adjacent to the Taos Overlook. The Bureau of Land Management used and managed those leased acres as part of an area known as the Orilla Verde Recreation Area. (7)

At various times, the Bureau of Land Management discussed with Klauer Manufacturing its interest in acquiring the 700 acres of the Taos Overlook that it was leasing. However, the Bureau of Land Management and the Company were not able to reach an agreement. (8)

Around August 1999, representatives of the Trust for Public Land approached representatives of the company, including William J. Klauer, to discuss the Trust’s interest in the Taos Overlook. The Trust’s interest met with its mission to protect open space from development, create parks and provide recreational opportunities, safeguard water supplies, protect wildlife, and conserve important natural resources. The Trust searched for land that was of interest to public agencies, such as the Bureau of Land Management, acquired those properties, and conveyed the acquired properties to those agencies.

In beginning discussions with Klauer Manufacturing in the summer of 1999, the Trust considered conveying to the Bureau of Land Management any portion of the Taos Overlook that it was able to acquire from the company. The Trust had learned that conservation of the Taos Overlook was a high priority of the Taos community and that the New Mexico office of the Bureau of Land Management had given the highest priority to the acquisition of that property. (9)

The Trust for Public Land worked with its partner, the Taos Land Trust, to help the Bureau of Land Management acquire the property for the Orilla Verde Recreation Area. The Bureau would manage the land to preserve the view and wildlife habitat and to expand opportunities for low impact recreational activities such as hiking, fishing, and picnicking. (10)

Funds for the project came from the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. The project was completed in April 2003, protecting a total of 2,581 acres of this scenic vista that helps make the Taos area a unique treasure for residents and visitors. (11)

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Source:

1. Obituaries. Telegraph Herald, February 25, 2001, p. 20

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. "Trekking the Taos Valley Overlook," Online: https://www.taosnews.com/stories/trekkingthe-taos-valley-overlook,46405

5. Bragg, Mary Rae. "Klauers Put N.M. Land in Conservancy," Telegraph Herald, June 30, 2000, p. 1

6. Justin E. Klauer, Docket No 15147-08-United States Tax Court. Online: https://www.ustaxcourt.gov/InOpHistoric/KLAUER.TCM.WPD.pdf

7. Ibid.

8. Ibid.

9. Ibid.

10. "Taos Overlook," The Trust for Public Land. Online: https://www.tpl.org/our-work/taos-valley-overlook#sm.0001mycep47vse91zlm1tao5j5upx

11. Ibid.