Last Koke leaves for QSL.

Byline: Tim Christie The Register-Guard

There are no Kokes left at Koke Printing Co.

Doug Koke, grandson of Joseph Koke, who founded Koke Printing in Eugene in 1905, has left the firm after 36 years and purchased QSL Print Communications from Pete Gribskov.

Koke Printing Co. actually hasn't been a family business since 1987, when Dick Pierce, owner of Industrial Publishing, bought a majority interest in the firm, Doug Koke said. Pierce's son, Jason, now runs the company.

In a 2004 interview, Koke said, "Dick (Pierce) is a great guy to have for a partner. He lets us do our job. He is not hovering around all the time. He is like a silent partner."

On Wednesday, Koke said he left the company his family founded only because an opportunity arose that he couldn't resist.

"The time was right for me to find something different," he said. "If this opportunity hadn't come up, I probably would still be there."

Jason Pierce did not return a message Wednesday seeking comment.

Koke said running a company he used to compete with takes some getting used to.

"It was definitely a change," he said. "It still feels a little bit weird when I answer the phone or someone asks me for my phone number." But, he added, "It still is the best thing for me."

He and Gribskov, whose father, Ivan, founded Quick Service Litho in 1950, had been friendly competitors who respected each others' work and business ethics, they said. The possibility of a deal first arose when the two talked at a trade show in Chicago in 2005, Gribskov said. Last summer, they talked more over lunch at the Sixth Street Grill.

Gribskov said he had other offers and opportunities to sell, but none worked out until he and Koke talked.

One potential deal fell through because the buyer wanted Gribskov out of the business, while Gribskov wanted to keep working.

As part of the deal, Koke gave Gribskov a four-year employment contract. He'll work on special projects and help Koke with the transition.

Gribskov said he didn't want to sell to another printing company that would just take the book of business, kill the name and cut payroll.

"This really turned out to be the best possible scenario for everybody," Gribskov said. "Here I've got Doug, who is retaining my employees, the name and the values of the company. It feels really good on my end."

QSL, with 26 employees and $2.1 million in sales last year, is about one-quarter of the size of Koke Printing, Koke said.

Koke declined to disclose what he paid for the business. He bought the assets and assumed the debt; Gribskov retained ownership of the old brick building that houses the business near the old Eugene Planing Mill.

Koke, 55, said he figures he'll keep working for 10 more years.

"I actually like this business," he said. "I like to make things. I'll go down to the back shop and hang out with the guys."

And on fall Saturdays, he likes to hang out with Ducks. For the past eight years, Koke has been the guy roaring into Autzen Stadium on a Harley-Davidson with the Oregon Duck on the back.

"It's about the most fun you can have in a minute and a half," he said.