Early Life
James Robert Crane was born on January 17, 1954, in Dellwood, Missouri. He attended Lutheran High School North and graduated in 1972. Crane then attended Central Missouri State University (now the University of Central Missouri), where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial safety in 1976. While at UCM, he was a standout pitcher for the Mules baseball team.
Rise to Success
After graduating, Crane entered the freight forwarding business in Houston in 1982. In 1984, he founded Eagle USA Airfreight with a $10,000 loan from his sister, which later evolved into Eagle Global Logistics (EGL, Inc.). EGL grew rapidly, becoming a global logistics provider with 10,000 employees and $4 billion in revenue by 2007. Crane then formed Crane Capital Group in 2006. In 2008, Crane founded Crane Worldwide Logistics. In 2011, Crane led an investment group that purchased the Houston Astros. Under his leadership, the Astros won the World Series in 2017 and 2022.
Key Business Strategies
Crane's key business strategies have involved identifying opportunities in the logistics and transportation industry. He built Eagle USA Airfreight into a successful logistics company, and then continued with Crane Worldwide Logistics. Moreover, Crane has demonstrated an ability to acquire and grow businesses, as seen with his purchase of the Houston Astros, transforming the team into a championship organization.
Philanthropy
Crane is involved in philanthropy, including significant donations to the Astros Foundation and Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. In 2020, Crane and the Astros raised $2.6 million for the Astros Foundation and New Hope Housing.