♠ Life Wins ♦ All Americans ♣ Rookie of the Year ♥ Record Holders ♠ Hall Of Fame
Anamosa, IA
1902 - 1994
Managing the Iowa State Cribbage Tournament for 32 years, Raymond E. "Rasty" Rasmussen is recognized as the one person - without a doubt - who has done more to further the game's continued popularity throughout the Hawkeye state than anyone else.
He and his wife, Lillian, shared the duties of managing the statewide tournament from 1932, when he brought the classic to his hometown of Marshalltown, until his retirement in 1982 at age 80.
Besides the state tournament, "Rasty" taught many young people to play "the fine old game," as well as managing several other cribbage tournaments: a summer tournament for vacationers at Lake Okoboji for 15 years, the Iowa Great Lakes event; a city tournament for the Marshalltown Recreation Department; numerous Masonic Lodge tourneys; and team-tournaments at the Iowa Veterans Home.
"Rasty" is widely known as "the man from Gasoline Alley" on the basis of his 50-some years as the owner operator of the old circular-tower service station across from the Marshall County Courthouse.
"Rasty" was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.
