I've used cartoon ads from SoCool for 14 years, and wouldn't give up my exclusive license for anything. Mark's ads are the 'best read ads in our local paper'..."

Jerry Smith -
Smith Insurance Service
Flagler, CO

"...Mark, it's usually difficult for an advertiser to know just how well received his ads are, but I KNOW from comments made to me about COWPOKES that our bank's ads have FINE radership each week. As a matter of fact, we've had complaints the few times over the years when we have had to omit the cartoon because of space demands, and I had better have a good reason to give the customers for doing this...thanks for the excellent service which you have given us over the years..."

(circa 1979)

"...Congratulations Mark on the purchase of your businss from your father. You asked that we send your our impressions of our COWPOKES bank ads. We took a survy and asked our customers, 'should we keep, or do away with our cartoon ads'? The answer was unanimous...DO NOT do away with COWPOKES, it's the FIRST thing we read each adn every week..."

"...your ads are the most effective and inexpensieve and enjoyable bank marketing program ever. It seems that absolutely eveyone likes a little 'down home humor' in this fast paced society..."

Michael Platte
President

December 29, 2005

To Whom It May Concern:

We have been using the Cowpokes cartoons in our local newspaper for over 40 years. For about half that time we purchased them from Guy DeBauge and for the last half we have been purchasing them from his son Mark DeBauge.

Our customers tell us they enjoy the ads and look forward to them each week. We actually quit running the ads for about one month about 15 years ago and we received so many calls from our customers we have never quit running them since.

It has worked well for us as Mark already has messages set up in the ad along with the cartoon and we choose one of the two messages and run the ad. It takes very little time for us and our customers really enjoy the ads.

We can recommend Mark and his company SoCool for your local print advertising needs.

"...we have published cartoon ads from Mark DeBauge for nearly 25 years ... the BEST ads we've ever had. We get more compliments on these ads than anything we've every published..."

Rick Polack. President
First National Bank - Phillip, SD