Our Past Is Present July 23, 2018

July 23, 2018

           

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Fred Bramlage is still remembered for his lifelong commitment to his church, his community and his love of sports. “Any sport.  I loved ‘em all” he told a reporter. Your host remembers him for his love of Filipino egg rolls, when he and Dorothy would visit the Fabia’s for a typical Filipino dinner. 

            Fred was born in 1910 in a tiny bungalow on Third Street in Junction City, just a block from St. Xavier’s Catholic Church.  He was the third of five children.  Fred’s father worked as a civilian farrier and blacksmith at the Fort Riley Cavalry School. 

            He graduated from St. Xavier High School and later attended Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri.  He graduated from Kansas State University in 1935 with a bachelor of science degree. 

            Mr. Bramlage began his business career in 1928, when he bought the White Eagle Oil Company gas station in Junction City.  It later was sold to the Mobil Oil Company , which began a relationship that lasted for 60 years.

            In 1938, he married Dorothy Hill.  They had three children, Dorothy Elaine, Frederick Robert and Paul Steven. 

            Fred once estimated that he owned more than 20 businesses and had interest in five or six banks.  Some of those businesses were in oil, banking, tires, real estate development and beverage bottling and distribution. Bramlage helped extensively to raise funds for a new facility to replace Ahearn Field House at Kansas State University.  The NEW facility was dedicated the Fred Bramlage Coliseum in 1988.  Mr. Bramlage died in Junction City on March 17, 1992.

And… that’s today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.