Born November 27, 1935
Casper, Wyoming

Passed Away January 8, 2001
Benton City, Washington


Dad giving me my Team Captain Award (1983)		Me giving dad his Appreciation Plaque (1983)

My dad was a true wrestling fan. His favorite wrestlers were his sons James and Jeff. Though we were never champions on the mat, we were champions to my dad. He attended every wrestling match, from 1975 to 1983, junior high and high school, and recorded all of our matches on 8mm film. He was always supportive and never critical. He Accepted our best, even if we weren't the best. He was the perfect wrestling dad and his love was unconditional.

My father not only supported myself and my brother but all Ki-Be wrestlers. Phil Bramson was known and respected by all wrestlers, coaches and parents during these years. He was the driver to many matches and tournaments. He provided wrestling shoes for those who did not have them. He provided parental support and guidance for those wrestlers whose parents did not attend the matches. Some wrestlers remember how he would help out at practices by wrestling the heavyweights. He weighed 180, our heavyweight weighed 340!!!

In 1983, one week before the state tournament, the Ki-Be wrestling coach quit due to a conflict with the athletic director. My dad stepped in as the coach despite having no prior experience. It was an honor to have my dad as my coach in my last two high school wrestling matches.

In the mid 80's he was instrumental in organizing kids wrestling in Benton City. He coached a team of his own and helped to develop the future of the Ki-Be wrestling team. He remained involved with the Bears through the 1987 season, mostly as an observer, and then became more involved with his family as his kids got married. Shortly after, the grand kids began arriving and wrestling took a back seat.

I began following the team again in 1994 and my dad was right there with me. We felt fortunate to be at Mat Classic VII in 1995 to see Garrett Knutson become the first ever Ki-Be state champion. He didn't know any of the new group of wrestlers at the time, but yelled for them as if they were his own sons. We attended all of the district, regional and state meets for the next four years. He was the matchmaker at the renewal of the Ki-Be tournament in 1998.

In November of 1999 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He underwent successful treatment and was declared free of the cancer in March of 2000. In December of 2000, he was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer. Just six weeks later his life was cut short at the age of 65. I will never forget my dad. He was always available to provide guidance, support and love when needed. His memory will live on with me and with many other Ki-Be wrestlers and coaches who had the privilege of knowing him.

God Saw you getting tired,
When a cure was not to be
So He closed his arms around you
And whispered, Come to me
You didn't deserve
what you went through
And so He gave you rest.
God's garden must be beautiful,
As He only takes the best.
And when I saw you sleeping
So peaceful and free from pain,
I would not wish you back
To suffer that again.


Dad with his kids wrestling team