Victor Melkhiorovich Kress was born in 1948 in Kostroma region in a family of Germans from Russia, but he thinks of himself as a Siberian, because he grew up and got the secondary education in Yashkino village in Kemerovo region where his parents were exiled in years of Stalin repressions. Besides Victor, his mother and father, Marta and Melkhior Kress, brought up other 5 sons and a daughter. The upbringing which he got in the family to a large extent determined his life, fate, character of future governor.
Victor was the eldest in his family. From 8-9 years in his free time he worked with his parents in sovkhoz. "I'm very obliged to my parents, who, being half-educated, managed to provide higher education to six of their seven children. Family traditions played a great role in life: order in everything, habit to constant work", - he remembered many years later.
It was difficult for Victor Kress to enter the Institute because of the ethnic origin. When Victor entered the Novosibirsk agriculture institute, his relatives and countrymen considered it almost as an exception to the rules. He felt it also later in his life. None the less, carrier of Victor Kress began forming rather early. After the graduation, he was placed on a job in Tomsk region and at the age of 23 became chief agronomist of "Kornilocsky" sovkhoz. At the age of 26, he was appointed director of "Rodina" sovkhoz. The major features of his character: high standards of efficiency, punctuality, reliability, heartiness, honesty, showed up already then.
"I just could not go home earlier than 10-11pm. I was not trying to gain favor; I simply could not work another way. Work, from dawn to dusk, was the only means for my family survival for too long", - says Kress. People in Kornilovo, Nelyubino, Berezkino villages of Tomsk area, where he worked, still remember and respect him.
At the age of 39 Victor Kress took part in alternative election of the first secretary of CPSU district committee and became the head of Pervomaisky area of Tomsk region. 46 out of 50 members of district committee voted for Kress.
At the age of 41 Kress became the chairman of the regional Soviet of People's Deputies. «This was entry of ordinary people into the politics, these were the first lessons of democracy at Tomsk land», - mentions Victor Kress.
When Victor Kress was 43, President Boris Eltsin by the decree appointed him the head of Tomsk region government. At this time Victor Kress started to form his own managerial team which was to work in new economic conditions. «Major principles according to which I selected people were their competence, ability to perform their duties and honesty. I was sure that it was important for people to see that authorities were trying to get away from political meetings and street fighting and started forming stable relationships with society taking into account the new reality» - says Kress.
At the age of 45 Kress won the election to the Council of Federation and became senator for Tomsk region. The Council of Federation became for him not only the basis for defending the interests of the region, but also a good school where members of administration of post-Soviet age got skills of lawmaking. «At first I worked in the budget committee, and then in the committee on science, education, public health, ecology and culture. This was some kind of self-education, especially that science and education always were the major areas for our region. Then I was appointed vice-chairman and was in charge of exactly science, including academic science» - remembered Victor Kress.
The Tomsk region population repeatedly gave Victor Kress their confidence by voting for his candidacy at the governor elections in 1995 (53% of votes), 1999 (73 % of votes) and 2003 (70 % of votes). «Elections for me are the hardest ordeals. It is a report, an examination... But every time I was sure of my victory. I felt that people should understand me, because I work honestly, do my best» - says Victor Kress.
Vladimir Putin, the President of the Russian Federation, and deputies of the State Duma of Tomsk region also gave Victor Kress their confidence: on March 10, 2007 34 regional parliamentarians voted for candidacy of Victor Kress suggested by Vladimir Putin for appointing as governor of Tomsk region. «I highly appreciate that Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin gave his confidence not only to me, but also to all residents of Tomsk. Together with inhabitants of Tomsk we have the right to be proud of the fact that the head of the state recognized achievements and progress in Tomsk region development» - says Kress.
The family has a special place in life of Victor Kress. It is a safe rear where he has been getting moral and psychological support in his work during many years. His wife, Lyudmila Vasilyevna, is the leading economist in price department of the state statistics committee of Tomsk region.
The major family values in Kress family are good education of children, their professions important for people.