Fred L. Cramer (Cave Junction ’59)
Posted: April 04, 2026
Fred was born December 28, 1938, in Placerville, CA. He passed away March 30, 2026.
Fred grew up in Southern Oregon, where he graduated from Grants Pass HS in 1958. He worked at the Douglas Forest Protective Association out of Roseburg, OR, for three years before his rookie year at Cave Junction, where he jumped 1959-65.
“During my time as a smokejumper, I believe Ralph Williams and I set a record for the most smokejumpers dropped on fires in one day,” he recalled, “and I don’t think anyone passed our number before CJ was shut down. It is too bad that CJ was shut down, but the management made grievous errors, but that is another story for another time.”
Fred attended Southern Oregon University before going to work with the DuPont Corporation. He served in the US Navy reserve for six years.
He worked as an explosive technician for 18 years in Ashland, OR, before starting his own transport company. While living in Florence, OR, he served as a partner in a renewable energy company for several years.
