Frank Andrew Wagner

Wagner, Frank Andrew, age 94, died on July 17, 2015. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mrs. Merlee Sears Wagner, two daughters: Ms. Janet Wagner Potter of Birmingham, Alabama (previously New York City), Mrs. Dana Wagner Chang (Randall) of Homewood, Alabama; one brother, James M. Wagner of Sacramento, California; two grandchildren, William Lee Chang II (Julia Cathcart) of Tacoma, Washington and Allison Alexis Chang of Fairhope, Alabama and two great-grandchildren, William Lee Chang III and Madeline Antoinette Helen Chang. He is predeceased by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dan C. Wagner, and a sister, Mary Ann (Danye) Wagner Moseley.

Mr. Wagner was a lifelong resident (with a few exceptions) of Birmingham and graduated from West End High School in 1941. High school activities include varsity letters in football, tennis and track, as well as election to the student body government. He was awarded a football scholarship to Howard College, now Samford University. He served in the United States Navy 1942-1945 with the rating of Petty Officer, First Class. While in the navy, he served in the areas of Bainbridge, Maryland; Burrwood, Louisiana; San Francisco, California; Numia, New Caledonia; Green Island, Bougainville and Guadalcanal in the Solomon’s; Brisbane, Perth, Freemantle in Australia; New Guinea; Leyte Gulf and Subic Bay in the Philippines; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and Midway Island. He was 14 months at sea aboard the USS Griffin, flagship of the 12th Submarine Squadron. Awards for military service include: The South Pacific Campaign with Battle Star from the United States Navy, the Philippines Liberation Medal, American Defense Medal and the Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in December of 1945.

Frank Wagner graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 1948 and received a Master of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College in 1949. College activities include varsity letters in tennis, membership in Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, Omicron Delta Kappa leadership society, and the Scholar-Athlete Award of 1948. From Birmingham-Southern College, Frank was a member of the Ginko Society, making annual contributions to the college for over fifty years.

Mr. Wagner was an assistant coach/teacher at Gulf Coast Military Academy from 1949-1950 and coach/teacher at Jones Valley High School, 1950-1954. From 1948-1953 he worked at the Mountain Brook Club (summers only) as tennis professional. From 1954 to 1960 he worked as Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Talladega, Alabama. He was also an assistant football coach at Talladega High School, 1955-1958. In 1960, he was appointed Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Birmingham, and in 1961 promoted to Director. He served in this position until his retirement in 1987. During his career he had close relations with many prominent coaches, athletic directors and conference commissioners. Shortly before his retirement, and prior to the start of the Alabama-Auburn football game of 1986 at Legion Field Stadium, he was called to the 50 yard line and given a service award from the Athletic Directors of the University of Alabama and Auburn University. After his retirement, officials of the Southeastern Conference honored him for his service to the conference.

Previous memberships include: Talladega, Alabama – Kiwanis Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Lay Reader/Vestryman of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Birmingham, Alabama – Member of the Lay Board of Trustees of St. Martin’s in the Pines, Cornerstone member of the Downtown YMCA, Ex-officio member of the Alabama Zoological Society, Member of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Society, Lay Reader/Vestryman of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Member of the Board of Directors of the Birmingham Children’s Theatre; Chairman of the Selection Committee for the Alabama Tennis Association’s Hall of Fame; Member of the Monday Morning Quarterback Club; Member of the Governor’s State Park Advisory Committee, Member of the Alabama Recreation and Parks Society (President 1969), Member of the Southern Parks and Recreation Society and the National Congress of Parks and Recreation Executives, Member of the Athletic Advisory Committee of Birmingham-Southern College, Co-chairman of the Southern Championship Tennis Tournament (7 years), Member of the Mountain Brook Swim and Tennis Club and member of the Brown Derby, a local beer joint.

In 1970, Frank Wagner, along with his friend, Dr. Richard A. Dillard, were awarded the Jacobs Trophy by the Southern Tennis Association for outstanding contributions to the game of tennis in the Southern states. In 1979, Mr. Wagner was awarded the Professional Award for contributions to his profession by the Alabama Recreation and Parks Society; in 1981, he received the Leadership Committee Award from the Boy Scouts of America; in 1988, he was inducted into the Birmingham-Southern College Sports Hall of Fame; and in 1992, he was inducted into the Alabama Tennis Association’s Hall of Fame.

Frank’s more recent memberships include: Vestryman, Lay Reader and Senior Warden at St. Bede’s Anglican Church; The Club; The Audubon Society; The Highland Racquet Club; The Birmingham Bridge Club; Member of the American Contract Bridge League; Life Member of the United States Tennis Association; Member of the Jewish Community Center; Member of the Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition; and Member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.

In accordance with his wishes, there will be no memorial service. A brief private ceremony will be conducted and his ashes placed in the Columbarium at St. Francis Xavier Church, in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection. Those who wish to honor the memory of Frank A. Wagner may do so with a contribution to one or more of the following: St. Francis Xavier Church; St. Bede’s Anglican Church; Birmingham-Southern College; the Jewish Community Center or a charity of one’s choice.

Frank Andrew Wagner humbly requests that you “pray for his soul, and the souls of all the departed through the mercy of God, to rest in peace”.