Former Michigan standout Ron Kramer honored for charitable accomplishments
Ron Kramer, the two-time Michigan football All-American who helped lead the Green Bay Packers to back-to-back NFL world championships in the early 1960s, looks at charitable endeavors as an extension of himself, making sure that those who need assistance have it.
"It's just part of who I am," Kramer said in a telephone interview Wednesday. "People always say that I am giving back. I don't consider this giving back - what do I have to give back? My beautiful body isn't so beautiful anymore. So I just do what I can to help those who aren't as strong as I am."
On Saturday, Kramer will be one of 13 honorees at a Hall of Fame induction ceremony hosted by the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi.
The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund (GGAF) provides assistance to former NFL players and their families who are dealing with hardships after their careers end. The group has provided more than $1.5 million in financial aid and medical assistance to retired players.
Kramer got involved with the GGAF through former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, who is a friend of Kramer's and a founder of the organization.
Joining Kramer as honorees at Saturday's event will be former Detroit Lions and Pro Football Hall of Fame members Bill Dudley and Charlie Sanders, along with former Lions players, Earl Morrall, Terry Barr, Jimmy David, Roger Brown and Darris McCord.
Also being recognized are former Michigan standouts Reggie McKenzie and Albert Wistert, along with former NFL players Rocky Bleier and Wally Tripplett.
Tickets for the dinner cost $150 per person or $1,300 per table of ten. Proceeds from the dinner will go to the GGAF as well to the family of Mason Samborski, a former Oak Park police officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty last December leaving behind a wife and young daughter.
For Kramer, 74, events like the one being held locally Saturday provide the opportunity to not only exchange stories, but to reconnect with men dealing with the same issues many former players do long after their careers are over.
"As you get older, you talk more about the aches and pains you're having," said Kramer, who spent the final three years of his 10-year NFL career with the Lions. "For me, I've got new knees, a new hip, I've had two or three heart attacks and it's just things you deal with," Kramer said.
In comparison, Kramer hasn't been forced to address some of the issues such as Dimentia and Alzheimer's disease that some in his football fraternity have.
So while his body may not be what it once was, Kramer considers himself one of the fortunate ones.
"I'm still mentally alert and I still get around," Kramer said. "I do all the things that I want to do although I may not do them as much as I used to or as well as I once did. But I still do them."
Kramer, who still operates his own business in Fenton, remains active as an NFL retiree. He makes regular trips back to Green Bay, making appearances with former teammate Paul Hornung.
And while he still enjoys reminiscing about his career in athletics, he still puts an emphasis on helping others - whether it be former NFL players or those who have benefitted with his charity work with the Ronald McDonald House or other worthy causes to which he has lent his name.
In addition with keeping tabs on his beloved Packers, Kramer makes weekly visits to Schembechler Hall. He maintains the title of the "apple man" 22 years after he started delivering apples to Michigan players on Wednesdays.
Kramer remembers Wednesday's practice always being the toughest. And so in 1987, he drove down from Fenton with a couple of bushels of apples and left them in the Wolverines locker room.
A week later, when the apples didn't make a trip to Ann Arbor, Kramer received a phone call from former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler.
"Is this Kramer?," Kramer recalls a gruff Schembechler saying.
"Yes," Kramer replied.
"This is Schembechler of Michigan," the coach said. "Where are the apples?"
Ever since, Kramer has delivered the apples on Wednesdays, continuing a long tradition of helping out where he can.
Jeff Arnold covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2554 or jeffarnold@annarbor.com