Charles and Phyllis Kreager Memorial Art Scholarship

This scholarship was created in 1993 by Charles W. Kreager in memory of his wife of 54 years, Phyllis. In 2010 the scholarship was amended when Charles joined her in death.

 

Charles W. Kreager was born Dec. 1, 1913, to C.W. and Stella (Wyatt) Kreager in the midst of a blizzard in Crook, Colorado, where he completed 12 years of school. His father was a local hardware and implement dealer.

 

Charlie learned at an early age to hunt and fish. There wasn’t much else to do in Crook! One of his most pleasant memories was winning the State Half Mile Race in 1931. Big schools and little schools were all lumped together in those days. There were about 35 fellows in the race.

 

Charlie attended the University of Colorado. It took him six years but he emerged with two degrees — an A.B. and L.L.B. (later a J.D.). He earned four letters in track at CU — 1932, 1933, 1934 and 1935. Following graduation and the Bar examination in 1937, he began working in the law offices of Sauter and Sandhouse in Sterling. In 1938, he married Phyllis Cleland, a CU graduate in Fine Arts. They had one child, Cordelia, who was born in 1940 and passed away 50 years later.

 

Charlie interrupted his career to serve in World War II. He served four years (1942-1945) as a special agent in the FBI. In 1945, he received a personal letter of commendation from J. Edgar Hoover, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

 

After the war, he came back to Sterling and resumed his practice of law. In 1997, Charlie decided that 60 years was long enough in the law business — or any business; so he “folded it up” and gave his books and library away, sold his office building, furniture and fixtures, gave clients their files and documents and closed his law practice. He never looked back! His retirement hobbies were hunting, fishing, sporting events and embarking on 33 cruises.

 

Charlie belonged to several professional and social organizations, including the American, Colorado, 13th Judicial District and Logan County Bar Associations. He was senior vice president of the Colorado Bar Association in 1959-1960. He was appointed by the Court and served for 25 years as a member of the Supreme Court Pattern Jury Instruction Committee. Other organizations include: The First Presbyterian Church, Sterling; Masonic Lodge; Shriner; Elks; Society of former special agents of the FBI.