Person:Ernest Kramm (1)

Ernest attended grade school and high school in Grass Valley, California. He was an outstanding student and a lead­er in his high school class of 1929. On the basis of scholarship he was chosen to be valedictorian. He generously declined the honor in· f aver of Louise Brown, a class mate with almost equally outstanding grades but had the misfor­tune of missing months of class-room attendance and instruction while recov­ering from tuberculosis. Ernest became salutatorian of his class instead.

The great depression of 1929 was a severe strain on the resources of Ernest's father, Alfred M Kramm, a Jeweler. Faced with bankruptcy, he did not have the money to send his children to college. All had to find other resources or earn their own way.

Ernest attended Emory & Henry College in Virginia from 1929 to 1933. During vacations he worked at the North Star Mine in Grass Valley. For three ses­sions at college he was a part-time operating engineer in the heating plant; later he was an assistant in the English Department, followed by an assistant­ship in the Math Department.

In 1933, he simultaneously earned a B.A. Degree in English with a minor in Mod­ern Languages and a B.S. Degree in Mathematics with minors in Physics and Chemistry. Ernest had said of himself many times: "I got a degree in English because I loved it and in mathematics because it was a challenge." He was very active on debate teams, served as president of both the Literary Society and the Writers Club, and was editor of the collage magazine. One of his classmates said of him, "He is possessor of a brilliant analytical mind, coupled with an indefatigable capacity for detail. He carved his success with the simple tools of hard war k and un­daunted determination."

The continuing depression of 1930's was a sever test of Ernest's determination; there was nothing in the way of a ca­reer opportunity that fit his academic training. In the midst of discourage­ment and depression he joined the U.S. Marines 13 Oct 1934.

His family received word of his action when his father received a telegram from Marine Recruiting. A.M. Kramm answered: "As this is a surprise to me, I do not understand his reasons for action and therefore do not approve of it. But he is of age and can do as he pleases ••• "

Ernest's enlistment in the Marine Corp was short lived. On 2 Jul 1935 he was given an honorable discharge "to con­tinue his education"; however, he served the remainder of his enlistment, until 2 Jul 1939, in the U.S. Marine Corp Reserves.

Darlys Partridge Murray, a friend from early childhood, received a letter from Ernest that gives a clue to his dissatis­faction with the Marines. Darlys writes, " ••• Ernest's comment about the marines was something about the futility of an existence whose main point was to dress up and march in parades, which in Washington D.C. seemed to have been an almost continuous demand. "

Returning to California, Ernest entered the University of California at Berkeley in 1935 as a graduate student in En­glish, psychology and mining engineer­ing, He stayed with this until 1937 when he dropped out without a further degree.

Marguerite Arthur had come to Califor­nia from Georgia to study at U.C. Berkeley and Mills College. It is proba­ble that Ernest met her on campus. What prompted marriage is not known. However, young people is that period often rationalized that two people could live together less expensively than apart. Ernest and Marguerite were married 23 Jan 1937.

Finding a steady job in 1937 was grim. Ernest finally found employment with the Oakland-California Towell Company (a large commercial laundry) as an apprentice maintenance mechanic. It paid $115 a month, hardly enough for two people to live on, To augment this slim salary, Marguerite found full-time clerical work at Mills college.

That was in May 1937. In September Ernest found a better job as a case worker with the California State Relief Administration in Oakland, That paid $130 per month. In August 1940 he changed employment again to the U.S. Employment Service where he started as a Senior Interviewer and advanced to Assistant Office Manager; his salary advanced to $217 per month.

Ernest joined the staff of Production Engineering at Berkeley in February 1943 as assistant personnel manager. Within six months he advanced to man­ager with salary of $392 per month. P.E. was a war time machine shop em­ploying up to 950 employees. During this busy time, 1944-45, he took night school course work in business admin­istration at Stanford University.

In 1947, with war time work winding down, Ernest joined the staff of the 9th District Council of the Electrical Con­tractors Association. This developed into his own business as "Public Rela­tions Consultant and Specialist in Gov­ernmental Affairs." He became a highly respected legislative advocate at Sacra­mento representing the Electrical Con­tractors Association, his sole client.

Friction was developing in Ernest's marriage with Marguerite ending with divorce in December 1951. Ernest met Alma Jean Tegerdine Vincent (she was called "Tege") a few months before. They were married 29 Feb 1952. Almost immediately they pooled their re­sources, bought a house in a new tract at 15966 Via Conejo, San Lorenzo, Cali­fornia, and started a second family: John Alfred born 13 Nov 1953; Patricia Elizabeth born 15 May 1955; Jacqueline Jeanne born 21 Jun 1957.

When the state legislature began to meet every year, instead of biennially, to consider new legislation, Ernest and Tege decided to move to Sacramento. They bought a home at 3901 Hancock Drive. As Ernest progressed in his career his social obligations became an increasing­ly important function of his business. It was here that Tege was at her best. She was a sparkling conversationalist, giving both beauty and class to every meeting. Ernest's hobbies were music, hiking and photography. At the time of his death, he had a collection of over 3000 records. His great love of nature was the inspiration for the many photo­graphs and slides he had taken over the years. He would hike almost any­where or climb beyond a point of safety just to get a perfect picture!

For many years, Ernest was afflicted by severe headaches, but it was not until 1970 that his condition was diagnosed as a brain tumor. He was operated on in February 1970. A large malignant tumor was removed. He never regained consciousness and on 6 Feb 1970 at 11:30 PM he died at Sutter General Hospital at Sacramento, California. At the memorial service that followed, Tege was presented with a Resolution by the Hon­orable L. E, Townsend of the 67th Assembly District memo­rializing Ernest G. Kramm.

In 1975 Tege tried marriage again, this time to Dick Conas, During the courtship Tege sold her home at 3901 Hancock Drive, Sacramento, investing part of the proceeds in "Rock of Sages", Wellington, Nevada, a dream concept of Conas who envisioned it as a "home­stead" for "Love and Laughs." The project took its name from a 50 foot high rock outcrop at the top of which Conas placed a 40 foot flag pole. Basically the layout consisted of two long trailers placed side by side with a large dance floor between. On one side was a tennis court.

The Wedding took place at the top of the "Rock of Sages" on Saturday, 14 Jun 1975. The marriage ended abruptly by annulment. By court order Tege reassumed her family name of "Kramm" and obtained outright ownership of the "Rock of Sages" which then became known as Topaz Ranch Estates, After considerable repair by John Kramm, the property was sold in 1988.

Tege established her residence at 4459 Manzanita Ave, Apt 47, Carmichael, near Sacramento. Taking advantage of her dynamic personality, Tege began selling insurance for Mutual of Omaha and within the first year, became their top sales person. She eventually became an independent broker. Later she was the personal secretary to a retired execu­tive. This ended when her employer died.

Tege was a longtime member of Reveilli­ers Toastmasters Club, was certified toastmaster, and had held every office in the club. She was past leader for the Whitney 4-H Club. Playing tennis was Tege's great love, but the most important aspect of her life was her spiritual development. She participated in several metaphysical groups.

In 1975, she had the first indications of breast cancer. For reasons of her own she refused medical help, particularly surgery. Instead she took a holistic approach to healing, one that kept her free from pain. According to her daughter, Patricia, "This extended her life greatly." All through her illness she lived in her apartment. She died on 19 Nov 1985 at 2:15 AM in the arms of her daughter Jacqueline with daugh­ter Patricia nearby.