Wenzel was born in the town of Ferda, Arkansas,[1] located to the southeast of Little Rock, and grew up in Dudley Lake, Jefferson County, Arkansas.[2][3] His father, Frank H. Wenzel, was a Georgia native who was employed as a bookkeeper at a department store.[2][3]
Wenzel was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round with the 12th overall pick in the 1940 NFL Draft.[9] He initially opted to pursue a career in coaching rather than playing professional football. In January 1940, he was appointed as the ends coach at Tulane.[10] After spending the 1940 season as the ends coach at Tulane, Wenzel spent the 1941 season as the assistant football coach at Greenville High School in Greenville, Mississippi.[11] In the summer of 1942, Wenzel resigned from his position at Greenville High School to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. After being told not to report until December 1942, Wenzel signed a contract to play professional football with the Steelers.[11] He appeared in six games for the Steelers during the 1942 NFL season.[1]
Wenzel had served in the Marine Corps reserve since 1938 and began active duty in December 1942,[12] reporting for officer training at the Marine Corps school at Quantico, Virginia.[13] He served in the military for several years thereafter, attaining the rank of major in 1954.[12]
^ ab1920 U.S. Census entry for Ralph M. Wenzel, age 1-5/12, born in Arkansas. Census Place: Dudley Lake, Jefferson, Arkansas; Roll: T625_67; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 118; Image: 174. Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line].
^ ab1930 U.S. Census entry for Ralph M. Wenzel, age 12. Census Place: Dudley Lake, Jefferson, Arkansas; Roll: 78; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0010; Image: 800.0; FHL microfilm: 2339813. Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line].
