G. Harold Wagner

Summary

G. Harold Wagner (July 19, 1900 – April 20, 1960) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as Pennsylvania State Treasurer and Pennsylvania State Auditor General.

G. Harold Wagner
61st Treasurer of Pennsylvania
In office
May 5, 1941 – May 1, 1945
GovernorArthur James
Edward Martin
Preceded byF. Clair Ross
Succeeded byRamsey S. Black
29th Auditor General of Pennsylvania
In office
1945–1949
GovernorEdward Martin
John C. Bell Jr.
Preceded byTed A. Rosenberg
Succeeded byWeldon Brinton Heyburn
Personal details
Born(1900-07-19)July 19, 1900
Drifton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedApril 20, 1960(1960-04-20) (aged 59)
Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materMining and Mechanical Institute of Freeland, Wilkes-Barre Business School

Early life and education edit

Wagner was born in Drifton, Pennsylvania to George and Sallie (Kitchen) Wagner. He attended the Mining and Mechanical Institute of Freeland, and graduated from Wilkes-Barre Business School.

During World War I, Wagner enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and served at the U.S. Naval Mine Depot in Yorktown, Virginia.[1]

Career edit

Prior to entering politics, Wagner held clerical positions with two local railroads, and worked as editor and business manager for the Dallas Post newspaper in Dallas, Pennsylvania.

He served as Treasurer of Dallas, Pennsylvania, and as Deputy Clerk of Courts of Luzerne County; and he later headed the inheritance tax department of Luzerne County before his appointment as the county's property assessor in 1930.

Originally a Republican, Wagner switched to the Democratic Party in 1934, before seeking statewide office.[1]

He served as Pennsylvania State Treasurer from 1941 to 1945 and as Pennsylvania State Auditor General from 1945 to 1949. In 1952, he unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination to the United States Senate to Guy K. Bard.[2]

Personal life edit

Wagner was married to Madeline (Stroh) Wagner, with whom he had five children; to Carolyn (Bonomo) Wagner; and to Dorothy M. (Singer) Wagner, his wife at the time of his death.

After retirement from public life, Wagner moved to Florida where he was involved in real estate development in Ft. Lauderdale and Pompano Beach. He later moved to Black Mountain, North Carolina where he subdivided property and built homes until his death.

In 1960, Wagner suffered a heart attack and died at an Asheville, North Carolina hospital near Black Mountain.[1]

His remains were interred at Freeland Cemetery in Freeland, Pennsylvania.[3]

Political offices
Preceded by Treasurer of Pennsylvania
1941–1945
Succeeded by
Ramsey S. Black
Legal offices
Preceded by
Ted A. Rosenberg
Pennsylvania Auditor General
1945–1949
Succeeded by

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Clipped from The Plan Speaker". www.newspapers.com. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  2. ^ John S. Langdon, "Eisenhower Wins Easily In State Balloting", The Huntingdon Daily News (April 23, 1952), p. 1, 13.
  3. ^ "George Harold Wagner". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved July 28, 2018.