O. W. “Mike” Weichel

O.W. “Mike” Weichel of Elmira turned a wartime tragedy into fifty years service to sports, veterans, his community and his nation.

A promising young hockey and baseball star, Weichel lost a leg in the First World War. Two weeks previously he had signed a professional baseball contract and had been promised a professional hockey tryout. In the eyes of Frank Selke, former general manager of the Montreal Canadiens, Weichel ranked next to Lionel Conacher as Canada’s greatest all-round athlete.

With his sports career ended, he turned his interest to executive work. He was a hockey and baseball coach, manager or executive for more than thirty years and served on the Ontario Minor Hockey Association executive for twenty years.

During seven years service as an MP, the former Elmira postmaster spearheaded the drive which brought Canada its first national fitness plan. While sports was a major interest, he was a tireless worker for veterans, his church and his community. During the Second World War he at one time served on the executives of twenty-three sports, charitable, community and military organizations.