Richard W. Waggener peacefully passed away surrounded by family on Aug. 30, 2018, in Laramie, Wyo., after a brief illness. He was 88. Waggener was born in Green River, Wyo., on Jan. 24, 1930, to Fleetwood and Harline (Hutton) Waggener in his grandparents’ home and was delivered by his “Uncle Doc” John Gilligan. The family later relocated to Cheyenne, Wyo., when his father was transferred there by the Union Pacific Railroad.
Waggener graduated from Cheyenne High School in 1948. He was active in ROTC during high school and college, and served as a radio technician in the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 187th Fighter Squadron from 1948 to 1950, receiving an honorable discharge.
After graduating from the University of Wyoming in 1952 with a degree in chemical engineering, Waggener returned to Green River where he had a long, distinguished career as senior engineer and project supervisor at the FMC Corp. trona mine west of town. He and several FMC colleagues patented a number of processes, among them “Purification of calcined crude trona by monohydrate recrystallization.”
While working at FMC, Waggener was drafted by the U.S. Army in 1954, and was assigned to the Ballistic Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. After his honorable discharge from the Army in 1956, he resumed work at FMC and that same year met Eleanor Manning. They married on March 29, 1958, in Green River, and had four children. He took early retirement in 1985, but remained with FMC as a technical assistant to the plant manager until 1988.
While in Green River, he served on many boards, including United Way of Sweetwater County, Sweetwater County Economic Development Association, Rocky Mountain Federal Savings and Loan Association, and Sweetwater County Republican Party.
Waggener’s political service started in 1965 when he was appointed to the Green River Planning and Zoning Commission. He was elected to the Green River City Council in 1969 and was mayor from 1971 to 1983, when the city’s population soared from about 5,000 to nearly 15,000 during an energy and minerals boom.
He was active with the National League of Cities and Wyoming Association of Municipalities, including serving as WAM president from 1977 to 1979. Between 1974 and 1986, he served seven state appointments by two Wyoming governors, among them the Health Coordinating Council, Job Training Coordinating Council, Telecommunications Advisory Committee, Council for Vocational Education, and Private Industry Council. In 1984, he was elected to the Wyoming House of Representatives and served one term.
He and Eleanor relocated to Cheyenne in 1988 when he accepted the assistant director’s job with WAM. He held that position until 1997 when he retired, but remained as a consultant for one year before accepting a position with George K. Baum & Co. as a fund representative for the Wyoming Government Investment Fund (WGIF).
In 2000, he and Eleanor settled in Laramie, where he continued to work part-time with WGIF. In 2005, he was appointed interim city manager for the City of Laramie. In 2012, at age 82, he retired from WGIF.
He was active in the Laramie community, including serving on the Interfaith-Good Samaritan board, Wyoming Technology Business Center Advisory Committee, and Albany County Public Library’s Friends of the Library. He was an energetic member of the Episcopal Church and served as a lay minister at St. John’s in Green River, St. Mark’s in Cheyenne, and St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Laramie.
Waggener enjoyed visiting with and helping others—friends and strangers alike—and also liked reading, woodworking, hiking, camping, rockhounding, bird and big game hunting, photography and cheering on the Wyoming Cowboys.
He took tremendous pride in every endeavor, and will be remembered for his strong faith, compassion, kindness, caring spirit, honesty, humbleness, and respect of others. On snowy mornings in Laramie, he took great joy in shoveling neighborhood walks, even at the youthful age of 88.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Ronald Waggener, M.D. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, and children Larz, Robert (Leslie), Linda, and John (Diana Marie).
A celebration of life and memorial service is 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 7, at St. Matthew’s in Laramie. A graveside service will occur at a later date in Green River.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the St. Matthew’s Cathedral Memorial Fund, 104 S. 4th St., Laramie, WY 82070.
Cear Eleanor and family. We are very sorry to hear of Richard's passing. Richard was a true gentleman. His persona was kind, quiet, thoughtful and intelligent. Richard was an excellent Mayor of Green River and accomplished many good and enduring enhancements for the City of Green River and the community. Our thoughts are with you and the family. Most sincerely, Suzanne and George Mores
Connie and I wish to share our thoughts and prayers with Eleanor and all of the family. Dick was one of the finest men and public servants I have met in a 45-year career in local government. Green River was blessed to have such a man of principle leading the community through the boom times and our family was blessed with the kindness and advice he shared with us a young professional couple.
He was a great Uncle! I miss him! I will pray for his family!
Ellie, I was so sorry to hear of Dick's passing. I know he will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Dick always amazed me by how much he accomplished when I knew him from 1960 to 2002. A very fine gentleman. Blessing and peace to the family. Shirley & I have good memories when we had the opportunity to have some of the children in our classes. God Bless!
Our thoughts and prayers are with you Eleanor and family. Jim and Marlene Bradley and tom Bradley
While only his nephew, Dick gave me a constant pillar of aspiration in terms of being a leader, family man, and a generous human being.. We have certainly lost a shining light. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire family.
Eleanor and family, may God bless and comfort you during this time of great loss. Dick hired me right out of college. I will always be in his debt for taking a risk on me. He was a wonderful, kind, and supportive leader and mentor to me. I will always hold very fond memories of our time together. I think of him often. He was a great example to me of honesty and integrity.
We have known Dick for 18 years. For all these years he has been nothing but a very good friend, kind and caring, and always ready to help. There are not many people like him. Just seeing him around in our neighborhood tirelessly working in the yard or helping a neighbor with some chore made us feel glad to know such a positive person. We will miss him greatly. Sam and Bistra
We were sorry to hear of your loss. We have many memories of Dick , especially at St. Mark's. your family will be in our prayers. John and Amy Sullivan also Kathy Hopkins.
All of the Sullivan's are sorry to hear of your loss. We have many memories of Dick, especially those years at St. Mark's.You will be in our prayers. Christ's Peace.John , Amy and Kathy.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, Eleanor, and your family. I worked with Dick when he was the Assistant Director for WAM. He was a very kind and generous person. He will be missed. Betty Mielke
I was most saddened to see of Dick's passing. He and his entire family have been most kind to me, they are a fine family. My sincerest of condolences to Eleanor and the siblings. He will be missed.