CP's Best Front Man Wenker Missed, Published 7 May 1955 Nobody
is sorrier than I to see Bill Wenker go. For years, this parlor car
conductor extraordinary was just about the best front man that Canadian
Pacific had between Ottawa and Montreal. Swiss born, he loved Canada.
He is now going to take his well merited retirement out on the Pacific
coast. Regular parlor car passengers between Ottawa and Montreal well remember this fellow with the friendly smile, fussing over you, chattering amiably to you, and then hustling you off his car with: "Don't forget your rubbers and umbrellas. The outside temperature is 39 degrees, and there's a light rain." From high brass to lowly reporter, William Wenker was equally gracious. Not soon forgotten will be his gracious manners, his way of dispensing hospitallty. You were his personal guest. By turns British sailor and Canadlan soldier, he was once blinded by a wartime explosion. But he got his sight back, joined the CPR in 1919, and has lived happily ever after. To the passengers, Wenker was more important than the president. He'll be badly missed on the Canadian Pacific. |