William Pagel: Circus Strongman – Iron Game History – July, 1995

Herman Goerner’s exploits have been well documented, but less well known is the debt of gratitude he owed a fellow German strongman who helped shape his career before Goerner came under the management of W. A. Pullum. Herman Goerner’s sponsor for many of his South African appearances was the unassuming circus proprietor, William Pagel, who had himself been the star of a “strength act” for many years. In his heyday, Pagel had been an exceptional strongman and it was only when his own powers were diminishing that he looked for a replacement. At the suggestion of Tromp Van Diggelen, Pagel contacted Herman Goerner and the rest is iron game history.