Honors and Death
Kramer was elected into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1971. In 1981, he was named as a recipient of the NCAA's Silver Anniversary Award in recognition of significant professional and civic contributions spanning 25 years after completion of his college eligibility.
Bennie Oosterbaan, Kramer's football coach at Michigan, described his blocking and tackling ability as his most valuable asset. Oosterbaan said this of his star player:
"To top off his marvelous physical gifts of size and speed and strength, plus an uncanny coordination, Kramer was one of the fiercest competitors I've ever seen. Nothing was impossible for him — the impossible was only a challenge."
In 1999, Sports Illustrated published a list of "The 50 Greatest Sports Figures From Michigan" (in all sports), and ranked Kramer seventh on the list behind Joe Louis, Magic Johnson, Charlie Gehringer, Bennie Oosterbaan, Hal Newhouser and Dave DeBusschere. "The 50 Greatest Sports Figures From Michigan," Sports Illustrated, December 27, 1999. He was ranked ahead of many legendary Michigan Wolverines football figures, including Fielding H. Yost (#9), Rick Leach (#22), Fritz Crisler (#31) and Harry Kipke (#40).
Kramer died in September 2010 at age 75.
On September 15th, 2012, Kramer was recognized as a Michigan Football Legend and his jersey (#87) was unretired and given to Brandon Moore. Like the two other Michigan Football Legends, Desmond Howard (21) and Bennie Oosterbaan (#47), the Michigan Stadium locker rooms were customized and will be forever recognized as a Michigan Football Legends. A patch over the left upper chest will also be permanently affixed to the No. 87 jersey.
Read more about this topic: Ron Kramer
Famous quotes containing the words honors and, honors and/or death:
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Even to the very quality of my lord.
I saw Othello’s visage in his mind,
And to his honors and his valiant parts
Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
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—Aeschylus (525–456 B.C.)
“For in the word death
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In surviving, for death it cannot survive,
Only resign the irrecoverable keys.
The wave falters and drowns. The coulter of joy
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Depends. And there are thrown up waves.”
—Philip Larkin (1922–1986)