09/16/2026
The pulling world lost a damn good one today.
William “Hank” Oester wasn’t just someone we knew from the pulling world — he was a good friend, and he gave us one of those stories we’ll probably tell forever.
“The Scrapper” used to be a beautiful blue truck. Then one day, she went from sitting on 10 wheels to laying on her side.
Hank came to tow her, but apparently his mind was already working overtime because somewhere between the recovery and getting her home, he saw a pulling truck.
And eventually, that’s exactly what she became.
Now, granted… he painted her that janky yellow, which I made sure to give him hell about every chance I got.
His response was always:
“Mrs. Wilhelm, it’s better than that Amish blue you had.” 🙄😂
That was Hank.
He loved pulling, he loved trucks, and he loved the people that came with both. Seeing The Scrapper out there will always come with a whole lot of memories for us.
Hank, you will be greatly missed.
May your days be filled with good tows and solid hooks. 🏁
Our thoughts and prayers are with Linda, Shelly, and the entire family.
Rest easy, Hank. ❤️
It is with incredibly heavy hearts that we share the passing of William “Hank” Oester of Salisbury, PA, who passed away this afternoon.
If you knew Hank, you knew just how much tractor and truck pulling meant to him. He truly LIVED for pulling. The pulling community wasn’t simply a sport to Hank—it was his passion, his people, and a huge part of his life.
Over the years, Hank became so much more than a fellow puller. He was a friend, a familiar face at the track, and a valued part of our pulling family. Seeing The Scrapper come through the gate was something so many of us looked forward to.
Atlantic Pro Pulling extends our deepest sympathy to Hank’s family, friends, fellow pullers, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers during the difficult days ahead.
The pulling world lost a great one today. The memories, friendships, and impact Hank made on this sport will live on every time the smoke rolls and the sled heads down the track.
Rest easy, Hank. 🕊️
You will be deeply missed.
Once a puller, always a puller. ❤️🏁
