Murray Wedhorn celebrates his 70th birthday and 50 years in the mechanical insulation industry and his co-workers are glad to pay tribute
By / Jessica Kirby • Photos / Erhardt Tutto
Dedication to a profession or industry looks like a lot of things—showing up everyday prepared to work hard, having a positive attitude, progressing through the ranks, volunteering here and there—but for Murray Wedhorn it looks like so much more. As he celebrates his 70th birthday and 10th year at Crossroads C&I in Calgary, he is also reflecting on 50 years in the mechanical insulation industry.
This is no small feat. Over the past five decades, Murray has worked for just two companies—Crossroads C&I and Steels—and he has volunteered in just about every position the Thermal Insulation Association of Alberta (TIAA) and TIAC have available. Although you can’t throw a baseball in Western Canada without hitting someone who admires Murray’s volunteerism and general big heartedness, he feels his greatest accomplishment is without a doubt the relationships he has built.
“I can’t stress strongly enough that it is the people in this industry that I love the most,” Murrays says, reflecting on his career. “The people have kept me going. Being 70 years old, I have had a good career. I could leave now and do nothing, but what would I do to combat boredom? I would see my friends in the industry, buy them coffee, and have lunch with them. That is why I stay: I love the people.”
Murray started at Winnipeg Supply and Fuel (which later became Steels) on June 8, 1970, as a 19-year-old boy from Saskatchewan just learning about insulation. He worked there for three months short of 40 years, and started at Crossroads C&I on March 16, 2010, where he has been ever since.
He has always lived in Calgary and he has always been involved with AICA (TIAA). He has missed maybe two meetings and has held every board position more than once. He also served on the TIAC board for five years, a tenure for which he feels fortunate.
“I am proud to be in an industry that has created real change,” Murray says, describing a recent project in South America that benefitted immensely from mechanical insulation.
“We did a gas plant that was flaring into the rain forest 97% of what it was processing,” Murray says. “In nine months, that company had surpassed its estimated payback period and was flaring less than 17%. In our industry, the difference we can make is amazing.”
As the industry grows, it evolves. Murray remembers back in the day when the main insulation product on the market was Peace River Glass, and it had horsehair in it. Obviously, the quality has improved and because of that the industry remains interesting and diverse.
“Ten years into my career, people said, ‛Wow, that is a long time,’” Murray says. “But, I’m not selling shoes and asking, ‛Do you want black or brown?’ There is a lot of variety. After all these years, I like that when problems arise, I have known how to resolve them because I have worked through something like that before. I love being a problem solver.”
Friend, previous co-worker, and owner of Tempro Tec Inc., Ken Warnick says it is this experience that has made Murray a “very astute driver of proper protocol.”
Ken knew Murray prior to 1967, even before he entered the insulation industry when Murray was a grouting expert. “We travelled down the Alberta highways working on compressor stations, and I always enjoyed his company,” Ken says. “Those who know Murray realize he is unique on his straightforward drive. In Murray’s world, games are left for the sports players.”
Ken and Murray also worked together at Steels and have served together on TIAA and TIAC in various capacities. “The insulation world has been a major part of his life, next to his stock car racing involvement,” Ken says. “TIAA and TIAC would not be the same without Murray’s voice.
“I personally have the utmost respect for him, and he deserves to be recognized as a leader in the insulation industry. Way to go, Murray.”
Professionally, Murray is pleased with his accomplishments with TIAA. When he started with TIAA it was as Social Director, which meant he was tasked with calling around to see who would be attending meetings and making the subsequent liquor store run.
“The meetings were Thursdays at the Tradewinds, and typically, when you got up Friday you couldn’t catch up with anyone who had been at the meeting the night before,” he laughs.
Joking aside, he has served on the TIAA board for all but four years of his membership, and mostly as president or vice-president. “I always encouraged people by telling them, ‛If you aren’t happy with something in the industry, then come to a meeting and change it.’”
Mark Trevors, fellow TIAA and TIAC member, remembers these days well. “I met Murray back in the late 1980s,” he says. “Jan Halladay introduced to me to Murray and told me if I wanted to know anything about TIAA to just ask Murray.”
From there, the trio developed a great friendship and were also known has the three amigos.
“We always golfed together in the TIAA golf tournament in Red Deer, even after Jan retired,” Mark says. “I consider Murray a true friend. Murray, Deb, Betty, and I always find time to have fun, especially at TIAC events.
“We always have a good time. You will not find a nicer person in the insulation industry that is more knowledgeable and trustworthy than Murray.”
The secret to five decades in the industry is, of course, a genuine love for the work and the people who do it. “When I leave I will miss seeing so many of my friends and the associations, both TIAA and TIAC, for the meetings and conferences,” Murray says. “I have also had so many happy days because of the people in our industry. Even when I bump into a competitor, we usually end up having coffee.”
Co-worker Derek Haun still remembers his first real, direct experience with Murray. “He was with Steel’s at the time, and it was over an issue regarding some TIAA t-shirts,” Derek says. “What became immediately apparent to me on the call was both Murray’s passion for and measure of integrity within our industry. By the end of the initial call we were both able to laugh about the situation, and have often joked about it since.”
In working alongside Murray over the last six years, Derek says Murray consistently displays his care of the industry as a whole through his passion and commitment to both TIAA and TIAC.
“Equally important are his close connections with the many friends he has made over the years,” Derek says. “His first priority has always been to these relationships, and it shows through in the success he’s had over the last 50 years.
“Many thanks for your guidance and friendship over the years Murray—Cheers!”
Erhardt Tutto is president of Thomas Associated Management Inc., and says he has has the pleasure of knowing and working in the industry with Murray for over 40 years. “I can still remember when he was the salesman for Steel Brothers in Calgary (1977) and came to visit us at Fuller Austin of Canada and our 11A Street office,” Erhardt says. “Murray had much darker hair at that time and his waist size was probably a lot smaller than it is now, but old age catches up to everyone.
“Back then we loved to go to the Blackfoot Inn for lunch or a cocktail or two after work. He’s very proud to be able to tell you that he has been in the insulation business for 50 years, and I believe that for the most part he has enjoyed it all.
“In those 50 years Murray has volunteered on countless TIAA boards (I’m sure he has a garage full of plaques) and has been a major force in leading the association.
“Away from work Murray loves Las Vegas, and the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas loves Murray,” Erhardt says. “I have had the pleasure of meeting up with Murray and his wife Deb in Las Vegas and watching them compete in slot machine tournaments. I’m sure the current travel restrictions have given him slot machine withdrawal.”
Erhardt points out that Murray is also an avid fan of Nascar racing and that he has spent time with some of the most famous drivers on the circuit. “One of his regular yearly trips to Vegas always includes a trip to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the race,” Erhardt says.
Besides his association volunteering endeavours, Murray and his wife also volunteer regularly at the Calgary Stampede with wheelchair access for those in need. “Murray does have a heart of gold,” Erhardt says. “Anytime our company held an event for charity, Murray would be one of the first to buy tickets or offer a prize.
“Our industry has been very lucky to have Murray donate so much of his time and knowledge. I know he loves the industry, and I know he loves working, so maybe we will do this again after he’s completed 75 years.”
Murray’s words of advice for professional and personal success are simple: Be honest, welcome the new people, and treat everyone fairly. TIAC has always played an important role Murray’s life and career, beginning with the warm welcome he received at his first conference.
“The very first TIAC conference we went to I got the same friendly treatment from all the members across Canada,” Murray says. “I soon learned that TIAC is a great resource, and I have learned a lot from the meetings and resources available from TIAC. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?”
Over the years he has been sure to extend this same welcome new new members and conference attendees, including TIAC’s current president, Shaun Ekert.
“Murray always supported me as a young fellow getting involved, and he invited and included everyone,” Ekert says. “Besides, he is a Saskatchewan boy, so yeah—very witty and gritty!”
He notes that Murray has always appreciated and shared the history of the industry. “This impacted me as I needed to know the industry’s background, and Murray was a wealth of history and willing to share in a very unbiased way.”
Besides industry knowledge, Murray has plenty of stories about racing and travelling for racing that Shaun tells to those willing to listen. “Also, his sense of humour meshes well with many,” Shaun says. “This could easily be a ‛roast’ and he would appreciate it! Murray is a true gem and the mechanical insulation industry is lucky to have him.”
Murray says that if he could offer advice to new members thinking of attending the annual conference or contractors thinking about joining the association he would tell them to go for it because it is a lot of fun, there is a lot to learn, and there are so many wonderful people in the industry that will make fast friends.
He is invited to speak at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) each year where he shares this sentiment with new students. “At SAIT’s insulation program, two of the instructors were customers of mine,” Murray says. “Every year I am called to do a rah-rah speech for the first and second year students, and I always tell them I am around because I am still having fun.
“The average age of a journey insulator is 53 years because they typically don’t want to work after that. They have their place in Florida and they are good. That’s not for me.”
He encourages young people to ask their employers to sponsor them to attend the conference—“They can only say yes or no!”— and he encourages employers to send them. “There are always good speakers, it is interesting, and you learn so much,” he says. “Anyone can benefit.”
Although he has no plans to leave Crossroads, he does have a clear vision of the point at which he intends to fold his cards.
“As long as I want to work and I can prove to myself I am not costing Crossroads any money, I feel good and will still get out there and be active,” he says. “I had double bypass surgery three years ago and the next day there was a meeting in Red Deer and I was elected president. As long as it is still fun, I’ll keep coming. If that changes, then I will leave.”
Co-worker Korey Haun wishes to congratulate Murray in this important anniversary and thank him for his years of service. “We have all benefitted greatly from Murray’s unparalleled experience, hard work, and passion for all contractors, distributors, and manufacturers,” Korey says. “I have always been amazed by the relationships he has with so many people throughout our industry that started at work but have become true friendships.”
He says that Murray’s care for his customers and teammates is inspirational and something everyone in Murray’s life knows is genuine and unconditional.
“At one time we were competitors,” Korey says. “But even then, he always treated me and my colleagues with respect and as peers trying to move our industry forward. I was excited when Murray joined us on the Crossroads C&I team in 2010, which was something to celebrate.”
Speaking for the entire team at Crossroads, Korey says when he looks back on the last 10 years he and the team have come to cherish the good fortune they’ve had to count Murray as a friend, admire his commitment, and be thankful for the opportunity to work alongside and learn from him.
“We have all been inspired by the passion, work ethic, and loyalty that Murray has displayed throughout these 50 years of service, and on behalf of the entire Crossroads C&I Family, thank you, Murray! Here’s to many more years of great friendships and laughter!” ▪
