Robert C. Crane

Robert Clark Crane (September 25, 1920 – April 24, 1962) was an American newspaper publisher and Republican Party politician from New Jersey.

Biography
Crane was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Frederick L. and Gwendolyn (Kershner) Crane. Both his father and his grandfather Augustus S. Crane were publishers of the Elizabeth Daily Journal in Elizabeth, New Jersey. After graduating from the Pingry School in Elizabeth, Crane attended Dartmouth College, graduating in 1941. After graduation he became a copy boy at the Journal.

Crane married Francis Hyde Adams on November 22, 1942. They had three children: Geoffrey, Jonathon, and Deborah.

During World War II he served in the Quartermaster Corps of the United States Army in North Africa, Italy, and Germany, rising to the rank of captain and receiving the Bronze Star Medal.

He returned to the Journal after the war, working as a bookkeeper. He later served as an editorial writer, assistant general manager, assistant editor and general manager. After the death of his father on August 15, 1949, he became editor and publisher of the paper.

In 1959 the Journal was sold to the Ralph Ingersoll chain and became part of Mid-Atlantic Newspapers, Inc. Crane remained as head of the paper until early 1960.

Crane was elected to the New Jersey Senate from Union County in 1955. He was re-elected in 1959. In January 1962, Crane announced that he would soon leave the Senate, having fallen ill with cancer. As a special honor, he was made Senate President for a week, also serving as Acting Governor for two hours. He resigned from the Senate in March 1962.

Crane died at Elizabeth General Hospital in April 1962 at the age of 41.