A. Ludlow 'Lud' Kramer, 1932-2004: Former secretary of state acted on his sense of justice

Former Washington Secretary of State A. Ludlow "Lud" Kramer, who transformed state politics and culture by insisting on help for the poor and social justice for racial minorities, has died at his home outside Spokane. He was 71.

Mr. Kramer died Friday (April 9) of lung cancer, his family said.

In a time of social volatility — Vietnam, race riots and political assassinations — Mr. Kramer, who came from a wealthy New York family, became one of the most visible representatives of state government. The moderate Republican promised change to those desperate for it and wouldn't be denied by the politicians with the power to close the deal.

"He was our General Patton in the field," said Ralph Munro, secretary of state from 1980 to 2001. "Where there was trouble, we sent Lud."

On trips to migrant-farmworker camps in Yakima and in the middle of an angry crowd in Seattle's Central Area months after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Mr. Kramer listened.

"He had such a big heart," said current Secretary of State Sam Reed, who got his start as an assistant to Mr. Kramer. "If he found something that upset him, he'd say, 'We'll take care of that.' "

Reed said Mr. Kramer's work was key in getting the Legislature to pass fair-housing laws and improving housing standards for migrant workers.

Mr. Kramer was an early advocate of election reform that led to formation of the state's Public Disclosure Commission. He also championed lowering the voting age to 18 from 21, Reed said.

"Many of the party regulars, I think, probably hated him because it wasn't the traditional Republican role," said Munro, a moderate Republican like Reed who considers Mr. Kramer a mentor.

Mr. Kramer, elected at age 29 to the Seattle City Council, was 32 in 1964 when he was elected to his first of three terms as secretary of state.

Former Gov. Dan Evans and Mr. Kramer campaigned together and, once in office, Mr. Kramer became the front man for the new governor, taking the heat on the most controversial issues, Reed said.

Reed said Mr. Kramer was guided not so much by political expediency as by his own ethics. "He said, 'Is this the right thing to do? Let's do it.' "

Early in 1974, Mr. Kramer became embroiled in controversy over the kidnapping of newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst. Hearst's father asked Mr. Kramer to help lead a massive $2 million food giveaway to the poor in California, a demand of the kidnappers. Kramer, who earlier had organized food banks in Seattle, took a temporary leave to help in the food distribution, which did not succeed in securing Hearst's release.

Born June 10, 1932, in New York City, Mr. Kramer served four years in the Air Force and in 1955 moved to Tacoma, where he met his wife, Patricia, and started a career in banking.

After an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 1974, Mr. Kramer resigned in the middle of his third term as secretary of state in 1975. He created The Ludlow Foundation, providing grants for needy individuals and nonprofit community organizations.

Mr. Kramer and his wife moved to Liberty Lake outside Spokane in 1995.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Kramer's survivors include daughter Mary Higuchi of Spokane; son Bill Kramer of Big Lake, Alaska; daughter Ann Vey of Maple Valley; son John Kramer of Olympia; and eight grandchildren.

A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. Friday at St. John's Cathedral in Spokane.

This story includes information from The Associated Press. Beth Kaiman: 206-464-2441 or bkaiman@seattletimes.com