Editor's note: Mike Cramer, Jim Poteet and Lilburn Wesche were contributing writers to this story

They first met decades ago as rivals on the basketball court.  Two basketball legends, now in their 90s, sipping coffee in a restaurant, sharing memories, chuckling at times, reminiscing over lives well lived. 
 
In the late 1940s, as our nation recovered from a war that changed the world, Champ Cartwright, at what was then Pasadena and John Cramer, at Northwest Nazarene were the heart and soul of basketball at their colleges.  And basketball at those two schools, really at every small college in the nation, was an activity which did much to restore sanity to a reeling world still recovering from a horrible war.
 
Two legends on two campuses.  Among the best basketball players of their day.   Their scoring records were the best and even with the change caused in later years by the shot clock and three point line, many of those records still are among the leaders.  But how well did they really know each other? 
 
The first time I'd seen them was in college right after the war ended in the mid 40s. They were much younger then and my first memory was watching them racing up and down the basketball floor leading their teammates in some of the most heated rivalries one would ever see.
 
Several years ago on a late spring day, "Champ" came to Idaho to visit a brother in the Nampa area. When I found out he was here I immediately seized upon the opportunity to bring the two together.  Both were receptive to the idea and met at a Meridian restaurant.  Although they knew each other from their playing days, the two had never really spent time together.
 
Sixty-seven years had passed since their confrontation on the hardwood but sitting with them, hearing their conversation and seeing both together only confirmed how much alike they were.  Both were about 6'1", medium build, and both were driven by a basketball passion. Listening to their conversation I couldn't help but believe they were extremely competitive.  They each played with an intense work ethic, always hustling with smart rebounding, and a stingy defense.  The similarities were almost eerie. Similar playing careers, similar childhoods, similar military experiences, similar professions, and now, similar retirement years!
 
 As I listened, I was reminded of their contribution to the heated rivalry they helped create between the two schools, to the psyche of their alma maters, to their university's  athletic history.  Sitting with them in that restaurant and hearing their conversation, I sensed there was a real respect for each other, not only as basketball players, but as persons.
 
Their lives were a parallel story that should be preserved!

GROWING UP YEARS

The Cramers lived in the windswept town of Irene, South Dakota.  When John arrived in1924 there were already four older sisters and one more sister soon followed.  John was the only son in the family of eight.   Times were hard in the 1930s.  Jobs were scarce, and there wasn't much food available, especially for large families.  Growing up during the Great Depression was a time of financial stress.
 
With the Depression in full effect, to provide for his family John's father would load up watermelons in a horse-drawn wagon and go door to door to sell them for a dime a melon. John's father was an extremely proud man and asking his neighbors for money turned out to be a humiliating experience.
 
John's father was a stereotypical German: stoic, stubborn and a strong disciplinarian. He was not a loving or affectionate man.  He was so rigid in his beliefs that one day, while John was walking home from school, he found a jack knife in a vacant lot.  When he got home, he showed it to his father who promptly made John go back the three miles and return it where he found it.
 
Lack of working opportunities and struggling to have food for the table, it got so bad that several times the only meal his mother could fix for John and his sisters for school lunch was lard sandwiches.  Too young to understand the bigger picture, John came home from school one day and asked his mom if they could have something else for lunch other than a lard sandwich.  John remembers his mother breaking down in tears at his question.
 
Eventually, like so many Mid-American families, the Cramers migrated west and found a new home in Nampa, Idaho.  John was in the fourth grade. 
Financially, things got better in Nampa.  John's dad found work as a skilled cabinet maker and was hired as a handyman at the college and his mother received a position at the college as a full-time cook.
 
The value of a college education meant much to John's parents and despite the meager and desperate financial times, John's parents managed to provide a college education for five of their six children
  
Chalmer was born in Southeast Missouri on December 24, 1923.  The family was large with eleven children.  The name that Mom Cartwright gave to her third son came from the Allis Chalmer tractor, which was a famous farm machine of that period.
 
Like the Cramer's in South Dakota and almost everyone else back then, it was not easy to make a living in Missouri during the Dust Bowl days. The common thread for both families during the Great Depression was the financial stress. The Cartwrights were dirt poor and Dad Cartwright was constantly trying to determine how to make things better for the family.
  
One of the older Cartwright boys had traveled to California and had success in finding a job. He worked in the Central Valley of California, near Fresno. The long growing seasons for crops made the job opportunities plentiful.  When Robert returned to Missouri, he told the family that jobs were plentiful in California.
 
It was true. There were jobs for all that were old enough to work. Dad Cartwright worked hard at several different jobs and within two years, he had saved enough money to buy a house in the area.

EARLY BASKETBALL

In Nampa John was enrolled in the three-room grammar school operated by the college on the NNC campus.  The grammar school served as a training facility for future teachers and was typical of the era.  There was nothing in the way of physical education or opportunity to develop athletic skills.  If you wanted to play and learn basketball, you found your way to a friend's backyard or to any backyard that had a hoop attached to a pole or to the side of a building.  Occasionally, John and other basketball wannabes would sneak into the college gym, especially on Sunday morning.  It was the only time during the week that college students wouldn't be using the facility.

Things didn't improve for John after leaving the eighth grade and entering the academy, which was located on the college campus in the basement of the administration building.  At least the academy fielded a basketball team.  Finding practice time in the college gym was a challenge.  The only time available to the high school was 6:30 in the morning. To stay warm they wore gloves and heavy sweaters.  


The cards were stacked against a player who wanted to improve his game.  Playing for a coach who was primarily a teacher with little knowledge of the game, and playing against teams from small schools like Notus and Greenleaf, which weren't highly talented, left John little opportunity to develop his basketball skills. 

To make matters worse, John's father thought playing basketball was a waste of time.  John's son Mike tells of an incident that confirms his dad's attitude. "Dad loved basketball and playing with his friends he would, on a number of occasions, come home late.  When that happened, his father, ever the disciplinarian, would scold dad and then send him to his room without dinner.  Fortunately, one of his five sisters would take pity on him and sneak him some food." 

Soon after the Cartwright clan arrived in Selma, Chalmer developed an immediate interest in sports. He also found a friendship with some Mexican boys, and together they began to learn how to box.  Chalmer had some success, so his brother, Robert, nicknamed him "Champ." The name stuck and Chalmer has been known as "Champ" ever since.  He also played football and basketball.  He liked school and was soon playing basketball every day.  He had not grown much yet, but he loved to compete.
 
It's interesting to know that early on football was his main interest. In basketball, Champ didn't set the "world on fire" as he only competed at the B level. His greatest success came in football. He didn't play basketball his senior year as he didn't like the coach.  He said later, "I had a bad attitude and I've always regretted having that negative relationship with the coach."
 

MILITARY SERVICE

A year after Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Champ was drafted by the armed services and was inducted in early February of 1943.  In his last assignment at the Amarillo, Texas Air Base, he was able to play basketball every day for thirteen weeks consecutively. He was placed on the officer's base team and traveled all over the area playing the game he loved.
 
High school graduation coincided with the middle of WWII and, in 1943, John finished H.S. and joined the Navy. John's son Mike tells this story best: "Dad told me quite often that he learned to play basketball while in the Navy.  He was a Yeoman on a small island called Majuro, which is part of the Marshall Islands (and today, due to climate change, is slowly sinking).   Fortunately, the wartime battles had already progressed past his island, and the only shot he had to take was a "hook" shot.  Dad had some job responsibilities that he could take care of in the morning which then freed him up to play basketball most of the day (most of the time), unless the commanding officer had something urgent that needed my father's attention.

Apparently, there were a number of experienced players in his company, but one in particular, an older, "tough" guy took dad under his wing and taught him not only how to hook, but how to block out the board with sharp elbows up, feet firmly planted and a bony butt ready to bump an opponent off balance and away from the falling basketball.  It was a technique my father learned quite well and not only passed it on to me, but to every player he coached over the years.  It was his second religion.  To this day, he yells at players of all skill levels – high school, college, and NBA players -- who fail to block out their man."   
 

COLLEGE PLAYING CAREER

When Cartwright reappeared on the Pasadena College campus, he was a twenty-two-year-old service veteran who had grown a little taller and gained some weight. He was a much better athlete as he had matured physically and gained much confidence from playing good competition day after day in the service. One of the first things he did upon his return to campus was to find a basketball and shoot baskets in the gym. He had not been shooting very long until the coach, Don Bolle, saw him and asked if he was a new student. Bolle was smart enough to observe that Cartwright had some basketball talent and would be a great addition to the team.

Champ told Coach Bolle he would be enrolling the next day for the second semester. Coach Bolle was excited and told Cartwright that the team was playing that night against Pepperdine College on the Pepperdine campus. Bolle told Champ to suit up and play. Cartwright mentioned that he hadn't registered yet, but Bolle said, "That's not a problem. We are not a member of an association yet." Cartwright suited up without practicing with the team and led the team in scoring that night. He ended the season with a 22 point per game average.

After four years serving in the Pacific Theater and playing basketball wherever he was stationed, John returned to Nampa and subsequently enrolled at NNC.  Cramer's return to the basketball court was so advanced that it seemed like he was a different player.  Not only was he more physical, but also possessed incredible basketball smarts.  At only 6'1"and playing the post, he had to outsmart most of his opponents.  In asking one of his college classmates, what do you remember about John's basketball abilities, without hesitation he answered, "His elbows."
 
For four years NNC's basketball games were 'Cramer and company' on display.  Back then, NNC's basketball team depended mostly on players who grew up in the church.  There were no scholarships and most students had some relationship with the sponsoring denomination, the Church of the Nazarene, which limited the quality of potential players. 

 A smooth, deadly shooter, John was a scoring machine.  In addition, his quick reactions contributed to his defensive skills.  With talented players in short supply, John at 6'1'', often was playing the post against bigger and taller opponents.  Rebounding records were not kept back then but had they been John would have ranked among the best.  His uncanny ability to block out, make himself 'big' and sense where the rebound would fall enabled him to completely neutralize his opponent. 
 
Cramer was a dominant rebounder and a terrific scorer. He led the team in scoring all four years.   In the era before the three point line and shot clock changed the game, he totaled 1,367 points, with a career average of 15.2 per game.  One national sports magazine named him the best all around basketball player west of the Mississippi.   He held the college career scoring record until 1956. 
 
John's son, Mike, said "The measure of my father's basketball success was chronicled by the record set for the most points scored in a game.  I was out of high school when his record was finally broken.  Not only could the scrappy farm kid shoot a shotgun, he could also shoot a basketball. 
 
After dad had become a star of the college basketball team, the heart-breaking, behind the scene story was that his father failed to share in the moment.  In fact, his father went to only one game."
 

THE RIVALRY BEGINS

War demands had curtailed travel and the two teams, (Pasadena College and Northwest Nazarene College) had never met before the arrival of Champ and John as freshmen.  As church sponsored colleges in the same denomination, the two were about the same size and, in sports, similar in performance. In the 1940's basketball was the major extracurricular activity for students and also of high interest for alumni. 
 
The first Pasadena vs. Nampa basketball series occurred on January 1947, and was quite an undertaking for both schools, generating great excitement on both campuses.   The three game series between the two rivals was in Pasadena, played in PC's gigantic new auditorium-gymnasium.  It was everything fans expected.  Close, tense, tight to the end, every contest in the first "battle of the Crusaders" series was swept by NNC 51-43, 51-43, and 57-54.

The first game was closely contested throughout and was won in the last few seconds with Cramer's scoring spree giving NNC the win.  The following night the game was much the same, neither team able to take command, until the final minutes with a repeat of the final score.  Again, Cramer led the way pouring in twenty-two points to lead all scorers.  Cartwright led the scoring for the home team.  The third game was the best played, and the most thrilling and hard fought game of the series.  Cramer, with his rebounding and dashing follow-up shots was unstoppable with thirty points.  Cartwright led his team in scoring and played beautifully, but his heroics weren't enough. Score the first series to the Crusaders from Idaho, with Cramer winning the head to head encounter.

One year later, the rivals came together, this time in Idaho.   Pasadena was accused of loading up their team with height and more skilled players, with the one goal to even the score.  Meanwhile, at NNC, the home team had high hopes to keep the win streak going.  A full weekend of activities was planned to highlight the series which was titled the "Tip Off series." The highlight, other than basketball, was the playing of Pomp and Circumstances featuring the crowning of the Tip-Off Queen and presentation of her court.   A Canadian, Alice Schmidt, accepted the crown.  She later becomes better known as the spouse of Nazarene General Superintendent, Jerry Johnson.

On opening night, the local Crusaders put a damper on Pasadena by coasting to a 52-40 victory.  Cramer continued his high scoring by pouring in 16 points.  Leading the visitors was Cartwright with 10.

The second game proved to be too much for the home team.  Bob Davis and Jimmy Jandreau led the way for the visitors and won going away, 52-43.  The two, along with Champ Cartwright, not only led their team in scoring, but dominated the boards as well. Recruiting Ralph Hornbeck at 6 foot 7 inches certainly helped the visitors control the boards.

The Pasadena Crusaders staved off a last minute NNC rally to win the deciding game, 42-37.  NNC lost the game at the free throw line making only eleven of twenty-four attempts.  Cramer played a brilliant game scoring sixteen points, while Davis was high point man for PC with twelve followed by Cartwright with ten.
Coach Jones of the Pasadena team said of the final game, "That was the hardest fought game we've ever had.  NNC compares with any competition we've run up against."

The visitors rubbed it in a bit when, after the game, Pasadena Coach Jones made an elaborate ceremony of returning Cramer's "dirty jersey" he accidently left in Pasadena the previous year.  Indications are that the jersey will be carefully laid away in moth balls until next year, when the series will be held in Pasadena. Score this one to Pasadena as they even up the rivalry series, with expectations of playing the rubber match next year.
 

COACHING CAREERS

Cartwright took over the varsity coaching duties in 1955.  In his thirteen years as head coach he won the NAIA District #3 championship three times and his 231-116 record make him one of the winningest coaches in school history. He definitely became the face, heart and spirit of Crusader athletics.  Everybody involved in athletics in Southern California knew about the legendary coach, "Champ" Cartwright.



Cramer graduated from NNC in 1950 and immediately was hired as head basketball coach at Middleton High School. I remember all too well a scrimmage between the college freshmen and his Middleton high school varsity.  They were younger, shorter and less skilled, yet with these adversities, they worked us over with their boxing out and stingy defense.  If we had kept score, I believe we were on the short end.   

Son Mike tells this story:  "There is one story that has always stayed with me because I think it reflects just how good and how creative my father's coaching style must have been back then.  He told me he was one of the first, if not the first coach in the area to introduce a defense strategy some unknown North Carolina coach named Dean Smith had tried.  It was called a "full-court press."  Dad studied it and introduced the concept to his team.  That weekend, against a team they were supposed to lose to, Dad waited until the start of the second half, then launched his new weapon.  At the time, his team was down more than 20 points.  The game ended with his team winning by double digits and a lady from the opposing team walking up to dad and telling him, 'you cheated.' "  

After two years at Middleton and a won-loss record of 42-12, neighboring Caldwell High School came calling and John answered.  The first year with the Cougars, he went 20-6, losing the District Championship to the Nampa Bulldogs. They still qualified for the Regionals where he defeated both Twin Falls and Idaho Falls.  What John accomplished at Middleton was continued at Caldwell.
 

EDUCATION CAREERS

John was not a fan of the endless hours and second guessing associated with coaching basketball and decided that administration would be in his favor. He accepted a Principal position at Parma High School for a couple of years, 1958 - 1960.  He then took a Vice-Principal position at Ontario High School, and was there from 1960-1972.  He moved back to Nampa in 1973 and became the Principal of South Junior High.

Son Mike shares an example of his dad's administrative skill, "At Nampa's South Junior High, my father inherited an environment where the students were reputed to control the school.  The principal had cancelled a dance, and the students had refused to leave the cafeteria.  My father surveyed the students sitting throughout the halls and immediately got on the intercom and directed the students to return to their classroom.  They didn't.  Broadcasting loud for all to hear, he instructed the vice-principal to use the school's video camera to record any and all students who refused to leave the hall.  Then, he announced that the video would be immediately reviewed and any student recorded sitting in the hall would be suspended from school. The halls quickly cleared, and a power struggle between students and the new principal ended, never to arise again."

In 1968, Cartwright resigned his position at Pasadena College to become a teacher and basketball coach at Garden Grove H.S. in Orange County. He then spent 18 years as teacher/coach in the district.

GIVING BACK TO THEIR ALMA MATER   

John's teaching and coaching career never got him far from NNU, thus he has probably witnessed more campus and athletic events than anyone.  Throughout it all, he has never lost touch with his Alma Mater.

 "John is one of our most loyal fans, whom I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know over the past few years", NNU Athletic Director, Kelli Lindley said, "He faithfully attends our athletic events and supports our teams with both his encouraging words and giving his resources.  We are blessed to have John in the NNU athletic family."

Someone said that you will always find John three or four rows up supporting the Nighthawks (formerly Crusaders), though you can't say much about him supporting the refs.  Upon hearing this, John said laughingly, "I claim the only time I yell at the refs is when they make a mistake."  A few GNAC referees might not share that sentiment.

Cramer's long connection to NNC/U, included being the second athlete inducted into the NNU Hall of Fame and funding a full scholarship for the men's basketball program.

Chalmer "Champ" Cartwright was still coaching the game that he loved at 90 years old. He had spent eight as the girls JV coach at Elsinore High School where he had the privilege of coaching his granddaughter. He also spent one year in his late seventies driving each day from Elsinore to San Diego to coach women's basketball at his Alma Mater.

Cartwright was in the first class to be inducted into the Pasadena College Sports Hall of Fame and has been a frequent attendee at Point Loma basketball games. His devotion and love for his Alma Mater is evident by his attendance at homecoming and other alumni events.

"Those who love deeply never grow old."  That's Champ!
 

MORE THAN ATHLETES:  A LASTING INFLUENCE

The coffee cups were empty.  It was time to go.  The years had been good to the two legends. The best basketball players of their day. More than great athletes, John and Champ modeled selflessness, as well as excellence in conduct, diligence, personal behavior, commitment.  Theirs was a lasting impact that made a difference. Their lives had been ones of service through teaching.  Their influence had channeled young men and women into lives of meaning and consequence.   Retired, but not "on the shelf"  they continue to represent the sport and their institutions well.