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The Richard C. Kramer Salt Lake City Amateur is now a memorial tribute.

For 15 years, one of Utah's most prestigious tournaments has honored the longtime Bonneville Golf Course professional as living legend. The City Am will perpetuate his legacy after Kramer died Friday in Salt Lake City at age 96.

Inducted into the Utah Golf Hall of Fame in 1998, Kramer kept working at Bonneville until 2000, when he was 81. He became the course's pro in 1943 after having attended Granite High School and the University of Utah, where he played football and basketball. Other than two years of service in the U.S. Navy in World War II, he remained on the job for more than 50 years.

"He was Mr. Bonneville," said Tom Reese, who was Kramer's assistant for 15 years before working as Glendale GC's pro from 1973-2000. "Boy, Bonneville will never be the same. That golf course was his life. His loved that place more than anything."

An outstanding player in his younger days, Kramer became known for his tournament administration and constant presence at Bonneville, where he loved to answer the telephone and personally take tee times in an era prior to automation.

"I've known him my whole life," said current head pro Steve Elliott, whose parents played at Bonneville. "He was always just a good example for all of us as kids … so well respected at the golf course and in the golf community."

In 1994, at age 75, Kramer received was named the Professional of the Year by the Utah Section PGA.

Kramer grew to love golf as a caddie at The Country Club of Salt Lake City, where he once borrowed a member's golf clubs and won the caddie tournament, earning his first set of clubs, according to his obituary. As an amateur and a pro, he won several local and regional tournaments.

In 2001, former Bonneville pro Mack Christensen and assistant Jono Herrick renamed the City Am in his honor. In recent years, Kramer was involved in the trophy presentation as often as possible and the winner traditionally received a flag signed by the legendary pro. The event was played at Wingpointe Golf Course in June, due to an irrigation project at Bonneville, but is scheduled to return to Bonneville in 2016.

Kramer is survived by his son, Rick, eight grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S. Highland Dr., with visitation beginning at 10 a.m.