Mr. Wagner was born on February 15, 1934, in Tulsa, OK to Cyril and Agnes Wagner. Mr. Wagner spent his childhood in Tulsa and he graduated from Tulsa Central High School. In 1952, Mr. Wagner enrolled at the University of Oklahoma where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity and pursued a pre-medicine course of study until he was attracted to the growing prospects of a career in the oil business. He graduated from OU with a Bachelor of Science degree in geology in 1956.
After graduating, Mr. Wagner brought his oil-finding talents to the Permian Basin where he worked for Amerada Hess and later in 1958 for J. E. Jones Drilling Company. He met Jack E. Brown, who would be his business partner for nearly 50 years. On April 1, 1962, Mr. Wagner, Mr. Brown and the late Deane Stoltz started the independent oil and gas exploration and production partnership Stoltz, Wagner & Brown, on a handshake. Over the years, the company that today is Wagner & Brown, Ltd., achieved national recognition as an aggressive and successful operator and producer of oil and natural gas in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana, Michigan, Kansas, Wyoming and Mississippi. The company has also been involved in a multitude of diversified businesses, industries and investments.
On September 16, 1977, he married Lissa Noël of Odessa, Texas. The two shared a special and happy life together that included traveling, entertaining and enjoying time with their cherished family and friends. This group shared his passion for hunting, fishing and golfing.
Mr. Wagner was honored with the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement and he served as chairman of the All-American Wildcatters Association that is comprised of top executives of the nation’s largest independent and major oil and gas companies. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and the Petroleum Hall of Fame, and he received the Top Hand Award from the Permian Basin Petroleum Association and he and Jack Brown were honorees of the 2010 Permian Basin International Oil Show.
Mr. Wagner served on the boards of many corporate and charitable entities including the Texas Medical Center, Chase Bank of Texas, Pennzoil Corporation, Rexene, El Paso Chemical, the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, and Midland Memorial Hospital. He served on the Board of Visitors of the International Programs Center at the University of Oklahoma, the McDonald Observatory of the University of Texas at Austin, and on the Development Board of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB). The Wagners have been dedicated and generous supporters of the University of Oklahoma and in 2010 the University opened Lissa and Cy Wagner Hall on the Norman campus to consolidate and house all student academic services. In 1986, the Wagners were major donors to the establishment of the Center for Energy and Economic Diversification at UTPB, and in 2007 the two made a Founders gift to help create the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center at UTPB.
Mr. Wagner is survived by his wife, Lissa Noël Wagner of Midland; a son Adam Wagner and his wife Carol and their daughter Lucy, of Austin, TX; a daughter Leigh Wagner of Delray Beach, FL; daughters Erin McMaster and Kendal Mitchel, a son Wes Wagner and his wife Laura Ann, and their children Lauren, Russell and Travis, of Midland, TX, a daughter Sherwood Wagner and her son Cy, of Dallas, TX; and a son Chip Wagner and his wife Kelly, and their children Noël and Ellen, of Fort Worth, TX.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, September 1, 2011, First Presbyterian Church of Midland, 11:00 a.m., under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home. Condolences can be made at: www.ellisfunerals.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for donations to be sent to:
The O.U. Foundation
Stephenson Cancer Center
University of Oklahoma Foundation, Inc.
100 Timberdell Road
Norman, Oklahoma 73019-0685
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