William ‘Boog’ Cram
‘It was game on from that point forward for close to 50 years now.‘
December 2025
Can you tell us something about Texas no one knows?
One of the best kept secrets is that Bobby Morrow was not only a mind blowing surfer, but one of the best and most smooth & stylish skaters that was coming out of the mid-70’s freestyle – transitioning to late 70’s ramps and into the early ‘80’s vert scene. He was a Texas State Surf Champion and later placed on the United States National Surf Team of 1981 which went on to compete in the World Surf Championships in Australia. His teammate was the GOAT, Tom Curran. Now, do some homework on that tid-bit…or if you know, you know. And just to think, this was the guy I looked up to as an up and comer and skated with him across all of our local ramps, including in my backyard vert ramp. He’s the best kept secret from the Texas skate scene for decades.
How would you describe the Texas skateboard scene and its community?
Street is strong, however transitioning to park riders and a little vert as a few (vert ramps) have been recently built. The vert scene is slowly coming along with a few solid riders – memories of the late 70’s and early 80’s for sure as it was building.
Who are those solid vert riders coming along?
The most tech and excelling riders to name a few are Cody Geisendorff (IG:TX Snake Bite), or the twin 10yr old brothers Jaxon & Jayden Aleman They are among many from H-Town who are bringing vert back, but they are clearly paving the new path here.
Which part of Texas are you representing and what is the scene like?
Well, Galveston is 50 miles (80km) South of Houston and would be considered South East Texas on the map – Texas is massive! I would also say the skate scene is rather healthy in our area with skateparks practically every 20 mins from one another. I believe there’s more talent from H-Town vs Dallas just for that reason alone.
I always do some research on people that I interview. Very seldom there is nothing much I can find. You are one of them. Do you consciously try to keep a low profile?
Aghhh, words of advice, “Walk softly and carry a big stick grasshopper!” I’m rather reserved, and like my quite time because I have dealt with the public for well over 45 years. I’m 63, soon to be 64 years old in December and have always been “center stage” per se’, so I suppose I’m not a loud Texan, but a humble and Proud Texan who so happened to have discovered skateboarding and music in the 70’s. It’s my lifestyle and bread & butter.
What I did learn though from your local newspaper, that you are involved in skateboarding for 30 years. This was published in 2005. How did you pick up skateboarding?
Actually skateboarding came to me in 2 ways. First was when I was 8 or 9 years old when my cousin had a board that had clay wheels on it. I rode it on my belly and while rolling I would look under the board and I saw a pebble get stuck in the clay wheel. When the wheel locked up, I created a spark…a real spark! Possibly the spark that led to my infatuation with skateboarding. A few years later I got a handed down board from my younger brother, and it was game on from that point forward for close to 50 years now.
What were some of the local skaters that inspired you?
There was this local surfer/skater by the name of Bobby Morrow, and he was unbelievable! In the 70’s he was our Tony Alva, Jay Boy or Larry Bertleman all in one package. I really looked up to him and always said I wanted to be as good or better than him. There was our vert crew of about 6 to 10 guy’s and a girl or two…and there was this red-haired kid and his crew from Pasadena TX. His name was John “Tex” Gibson.
Why do they call you ‘Boog’?
When I was about 3 yrs old my cousin was babysitting me and I managed to unscrew a light bulb to a lamp on our end table alongside of the sofa. I subsequently loaded the empty socket with pennies, and when it became dark enough to turn on the lights…. boom! It caused the breaker-box to blow its’ fuses. So, when my mom & dad returned from a night out, they arrived at a dark house, my cousin crying and me I’m sure with a grin on. She would explain to my parents, “That Little Booger put pennies in the lamp socket!” The nickname stuck.
Texas based skate podcast called Won’t Shut Up and Skate have done an episode with you. I learned that in 1977 you introduced a flat bottom to half pipes in order to have more setup time.
Back then they were literally half a pipe. McGill across the ocean basin in Florida has done the same thing around the same time.
What was going through your mind when you found out?
At the time it wasn’t like we really knew what we were doing before flat bottom ramps were a thing. Things were just rapidly evolving, and in this for instance, we discovered it provided more set up time – you didn’t have your next face wall coming up on you so soon as a then halfpipe or a pool wall would. We also played with large take off banked ramps which would lead in from the side of the ram – instant speed and higher on the wall. Heck, we had to get up 3ft of vert before a grind.
Furthermore, I learned in this episode that you rode for Sims. How does a kid from Texas end up with such an established board company at the time?
In November of 1980 Brad Bowman and Mike Folmer of Sims Skateboards were making their way out to Florida doing appearances and demos, all while documenting the trip for Thrasher. I worked at a surf shop, and we sold tons of skate gear including Sims, so we were on their list of stops. They stayed over a few days with me, and we rode our local closed concrete skatepark, my backyard ramp, and created absolute chaos at the high school across from my house. We thought it would be a good idea to do sticker tosses into as many classrooms we could get to….it was awesome! A few weeks later Brad called me and asked if I would like to ride for Sims (flow), so I did all the way up to when Brad Dorfman took over and buried Sims for Vision around ‘82. I still catch up with Bowman from time to time when he has something new he’s reissued.
‘Heck, we had to get up 3ft of vert before a grind.’
There was no push or temptation to move to California to advance your skateboard career?
I traveled for trade shows during that period of time as a buyer for the surf shop, I worked for, and skated any opportunity I had while there, but not to move to further my place in skating. We had it going on here and I was aligned with the Zorlac guy’s out of Dallas, so we had our own scene that was cooler!
Proudest moment in your skateboard career?
That probably has to be sweeping the 1981 Spring Series of Skateboarding. I got 1st place in Vert in Galveston, Austin and Dallas. It’s in Thrasher, but I never got a photo in any of the mags.
Most embarrassing or funny?
Showing up for contests and getting hurt in those snake sessions. I was just not built for that, so I felt as if I had the goods, everyone knew it but couldn’t deliver leaving me with a little bit of embarrassment if you want to call it that. Definitely not funny…argh!
What triggered the idea to start your own surf and skate shop?
Being in the industry for well over 35 years was a natural step to becoming a shop owner and I didn’t want to work for anyone else after doing so for so long. It was time to open that next chapter and I’ve been here for 20 years now.
What is the biggest challenge running a surf and skate shop today?
Probably attempting to predict trends 6 to 8 months in advance of an actual season – creating your Open To Buy’s, booking the merch, and hoping weather & economic climates always work to your favor. A bad string of weekends, a rainy period or a storm can really put a crimp in your business.
Your shop is called ‘Ohana’ which is Hawaiian meaning family. Which part of the family provides more food on the table, surf or skate?
Good question, but if I were honestly answering the question based on which department is where all my biz is at, would not be either of the two, but let’s say it’s skate.
Interesting. What is it?
General fashion/apparel? Apparel on the men’s side of the departments with women’s (Jr’s) to follow. Surf clothing brands such as O’Neill, Rip Curl, Volcom, Salty Crew, or Roxy. I also have a huge Ohana label presence on my showroom floor with caps and tees of all sorts.
‘No brainer, in every Texan skater’s heart!’
If you could pick any skater to be part of your team, who would it be and why?
Again, honestly, I don’t like teams so to speak, because I believe there is little to no loyalty with kids now-a-days. If there were kids that have the attitude and outlook on skateboarding as Jeff Grosso had…. That’s my kind of skater!
Where is the capitol of Texas skateboarding?
No brainer, in every Texan skater’s heart!
What are the skaters in Texas most proud of?
Being Texan & Lone Star Beer!
Who is the godfather of Texas skateboarding?
PSA…..kids!! Here’s your Texas Skateboarding History lesson – undeniably Zorlac founder Jeff Newton.
Coming back to the local news about you, I read that you were attacked in your Surf and Skate shop by a power drill in 2021 because a customer wanted to return a shirt he just bought. Have you since introduced or changed your Return Policy?
No, no changes, we just have policies here when it comes to returns. That guy had some real mental issues, and he had to deal with the ultimate consequence. I’ll leave it there.
Last question. If you could interview a person, who would it be?
I’d like to interview my Mom & Dad. I would ask them if they really understood how important it was for them to support our skateboarding endeavors. Not just to my benefit, but for our town – they deserve a lot of credit, and how they contributed to the scene as much as anyone as we were evolving. RIP Mary Ann & Willie’.
Thanks to Backside for the opportunity to tell a little portion of my involvement in the Texas Skateboarding scene – Grip It & Rip It….Boog.