Early Life and Education
James Robert Crane was born in Dellwood, Missouri, on January 17, 1954. He excelled in baseball during his youth and later graduated from Lutheran High School North. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial safety from Central Missouri State University (now the University of Central Missouri) in 1976.
Rise to Success
Crane's career began in the insurance industry before he entered the freight forwarding business in Houston in 1982. In 1984, he founded Eagle USA Airfreight with a $10,000 loan from his sister. The company grew significantly, eventually becoming Eagle Global Logistics and then EGL, Inc., employing over 10,000 people and operating in 139 countries. Crane sold his part of the company in 2007. He then launched Crane Worldwide Logistics in 2008, which achieved $1 billion in revenue within ten years.
Key Business Strategies
Crane's success is marked by his strategic vision and ability to identify opportunities. He expanded EGL into a global logistics provider and then leveraged his experience to create Crane Worldwide Logistics. In 2011, Crane purchased the Houston Astros for $680 million. Under his leadership, the Astros have achieved considerable success, including World Series championships in 2017 and 2022. Crane has also made investments in the Floridian National Golf Club and the restaurant business.
Philanthropy
Crane is known for his philanthropic efforts through the Astros Foundation. Since acquiring the Astros, he has directed over $60 million into local philanthropic initiatives. These initiatives include supporting storm recovery, disaster relief, and youth programs. He donated $400,000 and provided COVID test swabs and PPE during the pandemic. In 1998, Crane donated $1.2 million to upgrade the baseball stadium at Central Missouri State University.
