Wells, Jack

Year Inducted / Année Intronisé:

2005

Province / Province:

Manitoba

Category / Catégorie:

Builder, Media

Biography / Biographie:

‘Cactus’ Jack Wells was a radio and television legend for nearly six decades, from 1941—when he moved to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, to Winnipeg—until his death at 88 in 1999.

His close accociation with the national cirling scene began in 1952, when he covered his first Macdonald Brier. In the years that followed, Wells became a curling fixture, reporting on provincial events in Manitoba, the Brier, the women’s Macdonald Lassie and the World Curling Championships.

While continuing his media career, in 1970 Wells was appointed head of public relations in Western Canada for Macdonald Tobacco Co. He teamed up with long-time associate Bill Good to serve as guiding hands in creating the atmosphere responsible for boosting the Brier and Lassie into major annual happenings on the Canadian sports scene.