Albert George Wendt

Albert George Wendt died Oct. 20, 2011. He was born to Martha and Hugo in Stanwood, Iowa, May 19, 1922.

Albert graduated from Olin High School and joined the U.S. Navy at age 19. While aboard ship, he learned the electrical trade. He was accepted to officer training school, receiving his college education in the Navy, spending a semester at St. Thomas and a semester at Northwestern University before completing school at the University of California, Berkley, where he studied naval science, psychology and history.

On June 24, 1945, he married Margaret Marilyn Macomber, his high school classmate. They moved to Phoenix in 1947 to be out of the cold and be near relatives of Margaret. Working at Cannon and Watson, he became a partner and the company became Cannon and Wendt Electric. In 1964 Ernie Cannon retired, allowing Albert to place his personal stamp on his business and on electrical contracting as an industry, locally, nationally and internationally.

Cannon and Wendt was the electrical contractor on countless commercial buildings, buildings at the ASU campus, America West Arena, Glendale Arena and the University of Phoenix Stadium.

As a way of giving back to the industry, he donated land adjacent to Cannon and Wendt to allow the building of the current apprenticeship facility. During his career, he was a member of the Lions Club, serving as president and developing many lasting friendships. As a member of the Shriners, he became a Jester.

Albert believed in enjoying his time off and spent many weekends with family at getaways in Cholla Bay, Payson and Pinetop.