Class of 1952

W. Peter Kramer

• Royal Oak City Commissioner for Five Terms

• Jaycees Young Man of the Year, 1968

• Mentor in Volunteers in Probation Program

• Inducted into the Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame, 2014

W. Peter Kramer grew up in Royal Oak. He attended Longfellow and Barton before graduating from Royal Oak High School in 1952. He then attended the University of Michigan where he earned his bachelor’s degree. He was a devoted family member with his wife Janet and their three children.

Pete created an insurance business in Royal Oak as an independent agent. For 38 years his agency served the community as a model of integrity and service. While he was a successful businessman, he is best remembered as someone who loved his community and gave endless hours of service to make it a better place in which to live.

Pete Kramer was active in his church. He was a member of the Royal Oak Kiwanis Club and the Chamber of Commerce. In 1968 Peter Kramer was chosen the Royal Oak Jaycees Young Man of the Year.

Mr. Kramer served ten years as a member of the Royal Oak City Commission. He was the top vote getter in the elections so he also became the Mayor Pro-Tem for the city. As commissioner he displayed his talent for bringing people together to agree on goals and cooperatively address some important and difficult community challenges. He also served on the Oakland County Board of Supervisors where he helped businesses and industries acquire low interest loans.

Pete Kramer served on the board of directors for William Beaumont Hospital Authority, the Horizon Health Systems and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center. He was one of the first to volunteer for the Volunteers in Probation program created by Judge Leenhouts in the 1960’s. The program required a volunteer to meet with a first offender for about 12 hours a month. The volunteer provided friendship and guidance during the probationary period. The program dramatically reduced the number of repeat offenders and helped Royal Oak earn Look Magazine’s All-American City Award in 1967. Because Pete was one of the first and most effective mentors in the program, he was featured in the published article by Look. He also appeared on the Today Show when our city was showcased to the nation. Later a book would be written and published describing the Volunteers in Probation program. The book was dedicated to W. Peter Kramer for his guidance, dedication and service to young apprehended offenders.

Class of 1952

Robert L. McMasters

University of Michigan Golf Team Captain 1955 and 1956

First Evan’s Scholarship recipient, Red Run Golf Club

President, Western Golf Association, 1996-1997

President Golf Association of Michigan, 1999

Michigan Golf Hall of Fame, 2002

Inducted into Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame, 2001

Robert L. McMasters graduated with the class of 1952. In high school he was the manager of the basketball team and a member of the 1951 state championship golf team. He took individual medalist honors at the state finals his senior year.  He went on to be captain of the golf team at the University of Michigan and was awarded all Big Ten honors. He has won club championships at Red Run and twice was the Medalist Champion of the Michigan Amateur. Robert played in numerous USGA Championship events, and in 1960 reached the semi-finals of the USGA Public Links Championship.

Mr. McMasters lives by the motto: "If it is to be, it is up to me." He is a local business man who has volunteered his time and talent for many worthy causes. He has been an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts, his church and several community service organizations.

Robert McMasters has been an officer of the Golf Association of Michigan beginning in 1981 and served as Governor and President of that organization. While an officer he helped create the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame and establish a charitable trust for Association benevolence. He has also served as a Director of the Western Golf Association beginning in 1982, and is the only Michigan resident to serve as President of that organization. Mr. McMasters began serving as an Association volunteer in 1958 and has actively participated in the raising of funds and the awarding of 900 Evans Scholarships to former caddies who wished to go to college. He was also instrumental in procuring the $1.3 million necessary to establish the Evans Scholar House on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing.

Robert McMasters was inducted into the Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame in 2001.