John Kramer recognized with the 2018 Thomas Roe Award
The State Policy Network is a national nonprofit organization pursuing a vision of an America where personal freedom, innovation, opportunity, and a more peaceful society help all Americans flourish. Founded in 1986, the early development and growth of the State Policy Network was spearheaded by its founding chairman, Thomas Anderson Roe, Jr. Each year, in his honor, the Thomas Roe Award is presented to an individual whose achievements have greatly advanced the free market philosophy through leadership, innovation and accomplishment in public policy. It is the highest honor the State Policy Network can bestow upon someone.
The 2018 recipient of the Thomas Roe Award is John Kramer (Gamma Nu/New Mexico State 1987), the Vice President of Communications for the Institute for Justice, which is headquartered in Arlington, VA. His work for the Institute of Justice has protected homes and small businesses nationwide from eminent domain abuse, and secured the rights of entrepreneurs to earn an honest living when the government sought to shut them out. For those that have worked with him, they have described John Kramer as a multi-faceted human being.
As a mentor, Kramer has been mentioned as one of the first people in the network to teach everyone how to think about reaching human beings; how to express their ideas in ways that real people could understand. By applying market-based principles, he has helped the institute personalize, humanize and dramatize its stories of individual liberty to the media. While working for the Institute of Justice, he has directed the media relations in six major U.S. Supreme Court Cases:
- Zelman v. Simmons-Harris
- Swedenburg v. Kelly
- Kelo v. City of New London
- District of Columbia v. Heller
- Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization v. Winn
- Arizona Freedom Club PAC v. Bennett
As an accomplished painter, he has gone as far as creating personal paintings for the individuals he has worked with. In June 2017 he released a book titled Blythe, which examines faith, freedom and forgiveness. These examples, along with many others, are why Kramer has been referred to as a “Renaissance Man”.
Through his diligent work for the Institute of Justice and his unwavering support of his peers, John Kramer has strived to live by the guiding principle of the Assisting Hand. Theta Chi Fraternity would like to extend its congratulations to Brother Kramer on being recognized with the 2018 Thomas Roe Award.
Founded in 1856, Theta Chi Fraternity is a men’s collegiate fraternity with more than 191,000 initiated members and has established 239 chapters. Leadership development, personal development, and service to alma mater are fundamental to Theta Chi Fraternity’s mission.