Henry W. Sturm

Born in Waterloo, Henry Sturm received a public school education and started working at the age of twelve. A few years later he apprenticed in barbering and was associated with J.J. MacCallum’s News and Barber Shop until 1918.

He was interested in baseball and hockey and took over Frank Selke’s baseball operation in 1917, giving freely of his time in the promotion of amateur sports and community undertakings.

In 1923, he was elected to Kitchener City council and served almost continuously until 1953 and was mayor in 1933 and 1934. As mayor, with Mayor Wenige of London, in 1933, he organized the Ontario Mayors and Reeves Association.

During the period of 1947-1951 he was active in the promotion of the building of the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium and piloted to completion, the $1,250,000 project which was officially opened May 24th , 1951. He was a member of the first Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Commission in 1950.