SAGINAW (WJRT) -
(03/13/13) - The Saginaw hockey community is mourning the loss of a local pioneer for their favorite sport.
Former Saginaw Mayor Paul Wendler died Wednesday. He was 96 years old.
In the early 1970s, he helped bring the Saginaw Gears to the downtown Civic Center - a building later renamed Wendler Arena in his honor.
In the late 1990s, Wendler helped revive the building - now known as the Dow Event Center - when he and others brought the Saginaw Spirit franchise to town.
Funeral services are planned for Saturday.
