Robert C. Crane

Robert Clark Crane (September 25, 1920 – April 24, 1962) was an American newspaper publisher and Republican Party politician from New Jersey.

Biography

Crane was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Frederick L. and Gwendolyn (Kershner) Crane. Both his father and his grandfather Augustus S. Crane were publishers of the Elizabeth Daily Journal in Elizabeth, New Jersey. After graduating from the Pingry School in Elizabeth, Crane attended Dartmouth College, graduating in 1941.[1] After graduation he became a copy boy at the Journal.[2]

Crane married Francis Hyde Adams on November 22, 1942. They had three children: Geoffrey, Jonathon, and Deborah.[3]

During World War II he served in the Quartermaster Corps of the United States Army in North Africa, Italy, and Germany, rising to the rank of captain and receiving the Bronze Star Medal.[4]

He returned to the Journal after the war, working as a bookkeeper. He later served as an editorial writer, assistant general manager, assistant editor and general manager. After the death of his father on August 15, 1949, he became editor and publisher of the paper.[5]

In 1959 the Journal was sold to the Ralph Ingersoll chain and became part of Mid-Atlantic Newspapers, Inc.[5] Crane remained as head of the paper until early 1960.[4]

Crane was elected to the New Jersey Senate from Union County in 1955. He was re-elected in 1959. In January 1962, Crane announced that he would soon leave the Senate, having fallen ill with cancer. As a special honor, he was made Senate President for a week, also serving as Acting Governor for two hours. He resigned from the Senate in March 1962.[4]

Crane died at Elizabeth General Hospital in April 1962 at the age of 41.[4]

References

  1. ^ Staff. "FRANCES ADAMS A FIANCEE; Senior at Connecticut College Will Be Wed to Robert C. Crane", The New York Times, September 29, 1942. Accessed February 12, 2011.
  2. ^ Denslow, William R. (2004). 10,000 Famous Freemasons from A to J Part One. Kessinger. pp. 262–3. ISBN 1417975784. http://books.google.com/books?id=ZvBjhJr9Ev0C. 
  3. ^ Who's Who in Finance and Industry. 9. Marquis Who's Who. 1989. p. 252. http://books.google.com/books?id=bq8QAAAAIAAJ. 
  4. ^ a b c d "Robert Crane, 41, Publisher, Dead". New York Times. 1962-04-25. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20A14FB3A5C14738DDDAC0A94DC405B828AF1D3. Retrieved 2009-05-03. 
  5. ^ a b Turner, Jean-Rae; Richard T. Koles (2003). Elizabeth. Arcadia. p. 115. ISBN 0738523933. http://books.google.com/books?id=1F6iYssnaVkC. 

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Thomas J. Hillery		 President of the New Jersey Senate
1962		 Succeeded by
Frank S. Farley
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