Bishop’s Doug Wetzel Retires

Bishop Lifting Products’ outside salesman Doug Wetzel has retired, concluding a long career in the wire rope and rigging industry.

After moving to Houston in 1981 from Cleveland, he started work for Otis Dufrene with SW Sling Center. After about five years and multiple layoffs due to the oil and gas downturn in Houston, he moved to Southwest Wire Rope in 1986.

After 17 years there, Wetzel decided to explore other opportunities within the industry. He met with David Bishop and the rest is history. Wetzel has been with Bishop Lifting Products for 17 years and has been an extremely valuable asset to the sales team.

Wetzel said: “I’ve sold miles and miles of wire rope, in addition to high performance boom and hoist ropes, plus standard drill lines and barge pre-slinging ropes. When I started there were only 6 x 26, 6 x 36 and 19 x 7 non-rotating types. Wire rope has come a long way since then.”

Doug Wetzel (left) and Harold King.

Harold King, president at Bishop Lifting, said: “I remember giving Doug his first tour of the Bishop facility. He wouldn’t agree to work for BLP until he saw the facility.”