Kramer set to enter the hallowed halls of Canton

By ERIC PLUMMER

Sports editor

SANDPOINT — More than a few tears will be shed on Saturday night in Canton, Ohio, when Sandpoint native Jerry Kramer is finally and rightfully inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

Many of those tears will be streaming down the cheeks of his daughter Alicia Kramer, whom he picked to give the introduction prior to his induction speech. When it comes to talking about her dad, especially as it pertains to his enshrinement, Alicia is quick to tears, the byproduct of years of campaigning for her father to make it to Canton.

When Jerry was trying on his Hall of Fame jacket recently, just the mere sight caused her to break down uncontrollably in tears. When Jerry presented a bronze Hall of Fame plaque to his alma mater at Sandpoint High School in May, Alicia was there dabbing her eyes with a tissue, often.

Kramer recently told the Idaho Statesman newspaper that picking Alicia for the honor was a no-brainer.

“She’s been working on this for years and doing so much to make this happen. There wasn’t any contest. She has just busted her butt for so long,” said Kramer, who had to wait until the 11th try to finally get voted in at 82 years old. “I wanted to be in because a bunch of my friends were in. They had all these great stories, so I wanted to be a part of it. It can’t get much better than finally getting this opportunity after waiting so long.”

There figures to be a few tears shed in Sandpoint, as well, as longtime residents can remember when Kramer was a three-sport standout for the Bulldogs, playing football and basketball for legendary local coach Cotton Barlow. Kramer even won the state shot put title as a senior in 1954 with a state record heave.

There figures to be some tears shed in Coeur d’Alene, too, where scores of old-time Viking athletes played against Kramer, and followed his pro career with great pride.

Of course there will be tears shed in Moscow, where Kramer was a standout for the Vandals at guard and kicker and Idaho’s first All-American in 1956, also adding first-team All-America accolades in 1957.

Heck, all of Idaho will be sharing in the moment, as Kramer joins Rigby native and Arizona Cardinal great Larry Wilson as the only two Idahoans in the NFL Hall of Fame.

Ditto for Green Bay, where legions of Packers fans have been miffed for decades by Kramer’s omission. After all, he was the pulling guard on the Packers’ Sweep, a six-time All-Pro and a darn clutch kicker early in his career. Most of all, he was a champion, culminating by carrying Vince Lombardi off the field on his shoulders after winning their second straight Super Bowl together.

Kramer holds a soft spot for Sandpoint, and Idaho for that matter, as he’s lived outside Boise for the latter part of his life. He told the Statesman that there is special significance to your home state honoring you, including the plaque ceremony in Sandpoint.

“That was really incredible. I’d had so many great experiences since, but coming back to that really kind of brought it home. I saw some people I’d graduated with at that event. An event like that means more than just about award I could get,” he recalled. “The state Legislature is going to have (Aug. 23) be ‘Jerry Kramer Day in Idaho,’ which is really sweet. I’m going to get my Hall of Fame ring at halftime of the Packers-Vikings game (Sept. 16), so it’s going to be an emotional few weeks in what are both of my homes.”

The Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions will be televised Saturday on ESPN and NFL Network, starting at 4 p.m. PST. Also honored will be fellow 2018 classmates Robert Brazile, Brian Dawkins, Ray Lewis, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens and Brian Urlacher, as well as contributor Bobby Beathard.

It’s a safe bet most bars in Sandpoint will be watching the ceremony, with watch parties planned at The Corner Club (202 N. Main St.) in Moscow, Caddy Shack (1100 W. Prairie Ave.) in Coeur d’Alene and Jack and Dan’s Bar and Grill (1226 N. Hamilton St.) in Spokane. All watch parties are from 3:30-6 p.m.

Kramer will also be the guest of honor at this year’s Inland Empire Vandal Celebration on Thursday, Aug. 23, in Coeur d’Alene. The event, at the Hagadone Events Center on the CDA Resort Golf Course, will feature Kramer, the first Vandal to earn the highest individual honor in the sport. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. PT with a no-host social and silent auction. Dinner will be served at 7 and the program kicks off at 8. The program will include an address from Kramer, as well as a live auction. Tickets are still available. Tables of eight are $1,000 and tables of 10 are $1,200.

For more information, contact Shelly Robson at 208-651-7992 or shellyr@uidaho.edu.

Eric Plummer can be reached by email at eplummer@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @EricDailyBee.