Cramer,+John

4525 - 164th St. SW, Y206 Lynnwood, WA 98087 cell: 425-760-6005 johncramersr@aol.com
 * John Cramer**

**1969: **Received BA from U of Washington in 1963 and in 1968 an MS from U of Washington.  Attended graduate school at UW working on PhD in higher education administration.  Teaching experience includes:  1963 University College Dublin, Ireland; 1963-64 Palomares Jr. High School, Pomona, CA; 1964-65 U. of Idaho, Moscow, ID; 1965-66 Saimaan Kansalaisopisto (Adult Education Inst.), Lappeenranta, Finland; High line College 1967; 1967-69 UW.  Between 1962 and 1968 I have traveled in 20 different countries.  Married to Finnish singer, Eila in 1965 in Helsinki with one child, Karen, 2 ½ years old. 
 * 1999:**  “Currently Executive Consultant for the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, Riyadh. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  National HS Champion in pole vault, Jr. World Record Holder at UW, Ph.D. from University of Oregon.” <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-spacerun: yes; msospacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[info from MVHS alumni web page—J.G.]

My wife, Tyree is an RN & staff development director for CRISTA in Shoreline. My son, John John just completed the 3rd grade at North Sound Christian School here in Lynnwood. Tyree has her BSN in Nursing & Music from WSU & Eastern, and MBA from City University. We have been married 20 years. John John got straight A’s (4.0+) in the 3rd grade at NSCS, he ranks nationally in the 90th percentile in math and 89th in science; has played the violin since he was 3 years old (is now on his 4th violin, he is growing too fast); has his 2nd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo from the World Taekwondo Federation in Korea & has won 3 WA State Championships; runs the 3-mile run in 22 minutes and the mile run in 6:56; and is one of the top age-group swimmers in the NW for his age. A couple weeks ago he won 7 medals at the Washington State Track & Field Games. Last week at a track meet, he pole vaulted with a cross-bar for the first time and actually cleared 4’5”. Last month, he won 1st place in his age group out of 300 athletes in his 4th Kids Triathlon at the Seattle Seafair 2009. Looks like he is following in his dad’s footsteps, except that I believe he will be better than me. He is already doing amazing things at the age of 9. I am so proud of him. I was thinking back on my high school days, and smiling as I recall some of the things I discovered about myself and achieved in the process. Some of the wonderful memories at MVHS warm my heart. They include: National Honor Society & Torch; State Champion & Record Holder in Swimming; State Champion & Record Holder in Track & Field (Pole Vault); YMCA All-American in Swimming; National Champion & All-Scholastic Team in Track & Field (Pole Vault); Concert Master & First Chair Violin in NW Music Festival (junior & senior years); National Ford Foundation Award for Mechanical Drawing; several of my poems were published later, one //“Out Playin”// was published in a National Anthology of American Poetry; and countless other memories that I cherish from my four years at Mount Vernon High School. One of the most significant things happened to me at MVHS that absolutely changed my life. During the Swimming season of my sophomore year, I did very well as a swimmer & diver, but injured the tendons on the top of both feet in a springboard diving accident during practice. When track season started I wanted so badly to get my track & field letter, but running the mile, my best event, was so painful. Someone suggested that I try pole vaulting since I had a strong upper body from swimming, and good running speed, exceptional endurance, as well as great coordination from diving and trampoline. I was told that I could sit on a bale of hay after each jump and rest my feet until I felt like vaulting again. That sounded good to me. So, a diving accident, and my strong desire to get my track & field letter my sophomore year at MVHS resulted in discovery of a talent I didn’t know I had, and started me on an incredible adventure that would change my life. My junior year, I was a member of the State Record 200 Freestyle Relay Team from MVHS in swimming. My senior year, I broke the State Record in the Pole Vault by more than a foot, was National Pole Vault Champion & All-Scholastic All-American. I received about 30 scholarship offers at universities all over the country. Believe it or not, I actually turned down a scholarship to Stanford University and accepted the first “Tyee Scholarship” (academic & athletic) offered at the University of Washington. My first year at the UW, I was National Jr. Champion, and twice broke the World Jr. Pole Vault Record. I was also selected for the NCAA All-American Team. For the next several years, I was a member of the USA National Team, and at times was ranked #1 in the World in the Pole Vault. I also won the NW Decathlon Championship, and the UW Intramural Gymnastic Championships. I traveled by invitation all over the planet representing my country in sport. Much of the time, I stood at the top of the podium in major competitions with pride while the USA National Anthem was played. Those were exciting & fun years! After graduating from MVHS in 1959, my life has been great! I feel like I have lived 3 lives. I spent nearly 12 years studying at the University of Washington and University of Oregon, completing my BA, MS, course-work for my Ph.D. at the UW, then completing another Ph.D. at the UO. After that, doors opened in all directions. It took me 4 years to reach Full Professor Rank. This probably happened because I was well on my way to writing, editing, or contributing to 20 books and dozens of professional articles for major publications. I had the good fortune to write a book and do a series of 21 films on the underwater world, which won an “International Cindy Award” from the Information Film Producers of America. Believe it or not, I was on Jacques Cousteau’s famous ship the “Calypso” during my project. I wrote a top book for the International Olympic Committee, //“How to Develop Olympic Level Swimmers.”// I was editor and/or publisher for at least 7 national or international periodicals. I have held Full Professor rank for more than 30 years, and at times was a University Dean, and Division Chair. I chaired national committees, and worked as a National Director and or Executive Consultant in several countries. I made dozens of trips to Europe and well over a dozen round-the-world trips relating to my work. I guess I traveled to at least 40 countries, and lived and worked for extended periods of time in several foreign countries (Sweden, Finland, Ireland, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain...). What a wonderful way to learn about a diversity of people & cultures. What I have said here only scratches the surface of my life adventure since my days at Mount Vernon High School. I have gone on photographic safaris in Nairobi, Kenya; climbed the pyramids of Giza; and photographed the Valley of the Kings, Abu Symbol, Alexandria, Cairo, and all the archeological wonders of Egypt, and cruised down the Nile; SCUBA dived on reefs in the Red Sea; caught sail fish & SCUBA dived in Acapulco; spent time in Saudi Arabia, China, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Moscow, St. Petersburg, London, Dublin, Rome, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Monte Carlo, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo, Hammerfest, Norway, the northern most city on our planet; visited Santa’s village in Lapland, Finland, and visited dozens of other amazing cities and cultures. For the academic side of my career, I taught (and/or was Chairman or Dean) at the University of Washington, University of Idaho, University of Oregon, Seattle Pacific University, University of San Diego, Hamline University, University of New Hampshire at Keene, United States Sports Academy, University of Mexico, University of Helsinki, University of Tampere, University of London at Dublin, University of Bahrain, etc. I was a High School, University and Head National & Olympic Coach in Swimming and Track & Field at various stages in my career. I even worked for many years in Riyadh for the oldest son of the King of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal, and a couple of years for the brother of the President of Mexico (Lopez-Portillo). Can life be more exciting and interesting? My last university position was at the University of Bahrain in the Middle East (Scientists say the island Kingdom of Bahrain is the “Garden of Eden” noted in the Bible). I was the Lead Full Professor for the 1st Ph.D. graduate program at the university and in the Persian Gulf. I taught Doctoral Psychology, Research Statistics, Administration and Finance, Ethics and Communications. What fun! The Bombs over Baghdad and the US Ambassador’s recommendation, however, prompted me to return to the United States. I could have never imagined when I left MVHS in 1959, that I would be so blessed, and live such a rich life.<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">I am looking forward to our MVHS 50th Class of ‘59 Reunion, and renewing wonderful friendships initiated more than 50 years ago.
 * 2009**** : ** I am currently living in Lynnwood, WA with my family: wife, Tyree & 9 year-old son, John John (John Larry Cramer Jr.). I am retired, but working as a substitute teacher & coach for the Edmonds & Everett School Districts. I decided not to go back to being a university professor and/or administrator, so I would have a lot of time for my young son, John John.