Kratt, William

William Kratt – (1983)

 

WILLIAM KRATT

“The Krupp Gun” was the menacing title bestowed upon Bill Kratt because of his ferocious charges through the opponent’s defensive line in the football seasons of 1915 and 1916.

Playing for Coach George Daniel at 5’10” and 170 pounds, “The Gun” carried the ball six out of every ten offensive plays, usually for sizeable gains. His teammates, including Elmer Essig and Meyer Gordon, insisted that Bill was the greatest back seen during the teens. He started at end as a freshman, moved to wingback as a sophomore and starred the last two years at running back. He led the 1916 team to the Mythical State Championship.

“Scoop” Dumont, Times-Herald Sport Editor in that era, commented: “Bill Kratt’s feats became legendary. He was the scourge of Northern Ohio for four years. He was a sensation on the Ohio State freshman team, where they expected him to be a Chic Harley. Had he played three years in the Big Ten and gone into Pro football, in my humble judgment, his name now would be in the Collegiate Hall of Fame and in the Canton Pro Hall of Fame. However, for some reason, Bill preferred to return to his father’s contracting firm in Lorain. Maybe he did not like the books.”

Bill played forward three years on the basketball squad and was a dashman on the track team for two years. The 1917 basketball team was eliminated by Huron in the State Tournament at Ohio Wesleyan.