MILLERSVILLE TURKEY TROT HISTORY

The first Millersville Turkey Trot was held in 1973 and organized by Bob Charles and Harold Kramer.  The ten mile course started on Manor Avenue, at the intersection of Millersville Road, and headed West on Rt. 999 for about 4 miles. The course returned on Charlestown Road and finished with a ½ mile hill up Millersville Road.

Running and road racing were growing quickly at that time and the initial race attracted about 800 participants.  The event was held on the Sunday afternoon before Thanksgiving.

The 1973 race was won by Jeff Bradley, following his flight back from the Cross Country Collegiate National competition the day before.  Awards at that time were a turkey for the winner and age group champions.  Jeff’s roommates paid his entry fee in hopes of getting a turkey dinner before returning home for the holidays.

The race moved to its current location at Millersville University after a few years and participation declined as long distance runners were attracted to the ever-growing marathons held throughout the Northeast in the fall.  The Turkey Trot became a 5K race in 1978 to better match the changing preferences of the running community.

The Turkey Trot attracted about 125 to 150 competitors per year over the next few decades. 

In 2012, again changing to meet participant preferences, the race was moved to Thanksgiving morning and now attracts well over 1,000 participants.

In memorium…

Harold Kramer, co-founder of the Millersville Turkey Trot

“Kramer” died Monday, December 21, 2015 at age 84 at Hospice & Community Care, Mount Joy. He is survived by his wife Fay, of sixty-three and a half years, and by son, Bruce and his wife, Pamela; grandsons, Alex and Andrew; granddaughter, Jolene Smith and a great-granddaughter, Harper Smith. Also surviving is a stepbrother, William, of Newtown Square, PA.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Kramer graduated from John Bartram High School in 1949. He married Fay on June 21, 1952 and was drafted into the U.S. Army on October 21, 1952. He was stationed as a draftsman at Indiantown Gap and then at the Carlisle Army War College returning to Philadelphia. Upon his discharge, he and Fay moved to Yeadon, PA until his company, Simplex Valve and Meter, moved to Lancaster in February 1955. He and Fay moved to Lititz and in September 1956 to Millersville where they resided ever since.

Kramer graduated from Millersville State Teachers College in 1958 with a math major and minor in physical sciences. He began his teaching career at Manheim Central Junior High School where he taught math in grades seven through nine for the next thirty-four years. He graduated from Temple University with a Master’s in classroom teaching. Researching the different methods of teaching math, he had a paper published on the results. While at Manheim Central he served as Principal of The Adult Evening School.

He belonged to numerous professional societies as well as being a member of the Mt. Washington Observatory and the U.S. Chess Federation.

An avid hiker, Kramer climbed Mt. Washington over fifty times, the Grand Canyon three times as well as several other western mountains. As a Co-Director of the initial Turkey Trot, a ten mile run, he served in that capacity until the Trot’s success grew too large for him and Bob Charles to handle.

Along with Fay, he cruised almost fifty times including nineteen transatlantic crossings. He visited England over fifteen times, seeing the sights as well as friends there.

To view his obituary, click here or download the article here.

DO YOU HAVE MEMORABILIA FROM ANY OF THE
MILLERSVILLE TURKEY TROT 10 MILERS?

If so, we’d love to share them with others! Email your pictures of past races, entry forms, race results, t-shirts, trophies, etc. to CyFritzFoundation@gmail.com. We’ll add your pictures to our online Flickr album. Click below!