Interesting Stories
Pack of Western Wolves
In the early 1890's the pack of Western Wolves originated quite by accident. W. Pierce and a group of friends leased an old box car to be used as a club house, which they named the "Wolves Den." There they could play a little poker and plan the future industrial West. For the work conscious, duty bound bunch, those times were a crazy respite. One old cowboy remembered, "By God, when Cross and Cochrane came to Calgary could they celebrate!"
Bill Cochrane always made sure there was a barrel of 10-year old whiskey on hand, prohibition or not. One night the thoroughly squiffed friends left the box car and caroused through the streets of Calgary howling like a pack of wolves. Arrested and hauled before the magistrate, the recalcitrant bunch was defended by James Lougheed. Defence called the policeman to the witness stand and said, "Sir could you please recreate this particular noise which was found so offensive!" Squirming before the court, the constable couldn't emit a squeak. The case was dismissed. This original pack of 27 "Western Wolves" paid $50.00 each and incorporated themselves to become a private club, known today as the Ranchmen's Club.
The "Pack of Western Wolves 2000" has been established in honour of W. R. Hull "a successful wolf." W. R. Hull was a Pioneer rancher, entrepreneur, land developer and played a prominent role in western Canada's early economic development. In the late 1880's, Hull was the first Albertan to integrate cattle raising, meat processing and retailing on a large scale. By the mid-1890's his business empire included property in British Columbia and Alberta. Included were several ranches in the Calgary area and extensive holdings in the city itself. Hull developed the Bow Valley Ranche into a regional showplace. It was renowned both for its irrigation methods and for the social events staged at his elegant ranch house.
Today, twenty individuals have committed to uphold the tradition and become exclusive members of the new "Pack of Western Wolves 2000." A plaque honouring these new wolves and acknowledging their contribution to the restoration of the Bow Valley Ranche hangs proudly in the William Roper Hull "Wolf Den" in the historic Ranche House.
| Pack of Western Wolves 2000 | |||
 Jeff Barnes  Bob Bruce  Tom Budd  Adrian Burns  Ralph Burgess |
 Ron Carey  Steve Carruthers  Maureen Eberts  Stan Grad  Wilbur Griffith |
 Thalia Kingsford  Ann McCaig  Alfie Ogston  Rob Peters  Frank Sisson |
 Kristine Smed  Mogens Smed  Lynn Tanner  John Torode  Greg Wells |
