Robert A. Kramer
Robert Alphonso Kramer (July 31, 1906 – June 28, 1991) was an American-born Canadian football executive who was president of the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1951 to 1953 and 1961 to 1965.
Early life
[edit]Kramer was born in Petaluma, California on July 31, 1906 to Albert Edward and Catherine Henrietta (Hughes) Kramer.[1] The family moved to Canada in 1917 and settled on a farm near Lethbridge. Kramer became a naturalized Canadian citizen in 1922.[2] Kramer graduated from St. Mary's High School in Calgary. On August 9, 1925, he married Alice Mannix, daughter of Frederick S. Mannix. They had five children.[1]
Business
[edit]Kramer's first job was teaching. He then spent 18 years with Mannix Co., a Calgary construction firm, where he rose from apprentice to construction supervisor to partner. In 1944, the company was sold to an American group.[2]
On June 1, 1944, Kramer became a dealer for Caterpillar Inc. in Regina, Saskatchewan. He formed Kramer-Church Tractor Co. with his brother, Thomas, and Clarence Church. Church died three years later and the company was renamed the Kramer Tractor Company.[3] By 1964, the company had 200 employees and $7.5 million in sales.[2] Kramer retired in 1980 and was succeeded as president by his son, Donald.[3]
Saskatchewan Roughriders
[edit]Kramer became president of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1951. During his first season, he made a recruiting trip to New York City, where he signed a number of players, including future Canadian Football Hall of Famer Martin Ruby.[4] The Roughriders lost that year's Grey Cup to the Ottawa Rough Riders.[2] In 1960, Kramer was president of Western Interprovincial Football Union. He returned to the Roughriders presidency in 1961 and along with general manager Ken Preston, hired a new coaching staff, led by Steve Owen, and signed future Hall of Famers Ron Lancaster and George Reed.[4] The Roughriders made 15 consecutive playoff appearances and won their first Grey Cup in 1966. Kramer was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1987.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b The Canadian Who's Who. University of Toronto Press. 1969. p. 595. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Wagon Driver to Equipment Firm Owner Kramer's Career". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. December 29, 1964. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ a b Larkin, Frederick (May 7, 2014). "Matching the missions". Wings. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ a b c "Robert "Bob" Kramer". Canadian Football Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 6 August 2025.