Joe Meinzinger

Joe Meinzinger displayed his abilities as a boxer at an early age; and was later given his start in boxing by Tommy Dwyer, a professional boxer.

Meinzinger built his own boxing club at 396 Wellington Street in Kitchener. The club was such a success that Meinzinger built an outdoor rink behind his boxing club. In the summer he built horseshoe pits. Since there were no government grants at this time, Meinzinger paid for all these facilities himself.

Meinzinger’s boxing club produced some great boxers: Gord Schmulz, a member of the Waterloo County Hall of Fame; Harvey Fleet, a Lightweight title holder; Stan Bremner, Norm Downey, Mickey Surzi, and many others were all products of his boxing club.

His club entered a team in the city hockey league and had Hall of Famer Milt Schmidt rise through his organization.

Meinzinger served several terms as Mayor of Kitchener and also served the community as an MPP.