I knew who Bill Wendling was over seventy years ago at P.S. #80, but not closely, as he was two years older than I and lived near the high school, whereas my family lived between the canal and the river. Furthermore, he went to BRHS while I went to Shortridge.

When I did meet him, it was at the monthly Gazette get-together at the Whistle Stop restaurant. He was with Wally Scott, a close friend of his from BRHS football days. Wally, on the other hand, and I were neighbors off and on for twenty seven years. As young marrieds, we lived across from each other in the old frame apartments along the canal. My wife and I owned one of the buildings, where we installed a regulation pool table and a professional table shuffleboard in the basement. We had some lively games there, including poker games on the pool table.

I found Bill to be a wonderfully congenial gentleman. In discussing things, I learned that he is a decorated veteran of WWII and a worthy subject for being introduced to the readers of the Gazette.

Bills' parents, Russell and Helen (Daffron) Wendling were Hoosiers, born respectively in 1896 and 1897. Mr. Wendling, a salesman in the coal business, was appointed Fuels Administrator for the State of Indiana during the war. The couple had six children, of whom Bill was number 2. All of them attended School 80 and BRHS.

Don, number one, went into service but was released because he had four children, later adding three more. Before his discharge he was being trained as a specialist in perceived occupational duties. After the war he drove a horse-drawn milk wagon for the Polk Milk Co. In 1955, Don moved his family to Seymour where he was distributor for Mother's Cookies. His final job was with Cummins Diesel. He died in 1988.

The other siblings were Betty, 1922; Jim, 1926; Ralph, 1931; and Fred, 1934.