Rev. Cradle has lived in South Toms River, New Jersey for the past seventy years. Rev. Cradle attended Toms River Public Schools. Rev. Cradle attended Hampton University after graduating from Toms River High School in 1966. Rev. Cradle paved for nearly sixty years, finally having his own asphalt paving company.
Rev. Cradle battled heroin addiction for twenty-one (21) years. He finally broke the habit in 1991, thanks to his mother's relentless pushing and prayers, and has been drug-free for thirty-two (32) years. Rev. Cradle has been active in several community groups in South Toms River since that time: Oscar is the creator of the Wells Chapel AME Church Community Outreach Center, founder of the STR AA/NA, and the initiator of the STR Neighborhood Watch Committee. Oscar is the STR PAL co-founder and contributed to the development of a 2.2-million-dollar grant for an afterschool program and worked as its Site Coordinator for four years. He has served on the South Toms River Borough Council for seven terms and was elected Council President in 2004. Rev. Cradle was elected Mayor of South Toms River in 2014 and 2022.