Thomas Kranis

A top-flight and colorful basketball official for 38 years and served as an NCAA college official for 15 years. He officiated PIAA state title games at all levels, including the 1977 state championship game between Steelton High and Fox Chapel. As a player, he was the city high scorer for the Southern junior high school basketball team and played on the Reading High School team that won the Central Penn and District III titles in 1952. He also played on numerous city championship basketball teams, including Crystal Restaurant, Denny’s Café, and Charmer’s Corner, as well as with the JCC team and Kissinger’s Travel, and was a member of the top local amateur team that won the Lebanon Invitational. As an official, he worked games at Lafayette, LaSalle, Temple, Princeton, and Dartmouth, and officiated for many years in Philadelphia’s Summer Baker League. The late Marty Benkovic of Steel High once stated, “For the tough games with Harrisburg and York, I want Kranis in the striped shirt, we’ll always get an honest game.” As a young player, Kranis was named MVP in the state Hellenic basketball competition. He is a life member of the Reading–Berks Basketball Old-Timers, a retired bank executive, and was honored by the BCBOA with a 25-year award for service and dedication.

Deceased