Robert Wagar, Former Sandusky City Manager

Robert Lincoln Joseph Wagar was born in Lakewood, Ohio on February 12, 1880, to David and Margaret Wagar. He was a descendant of one of the earliest settlers of Lakewood, Mars Wagar.

At first he studied law, but later decided to become an engineer, working as a civil engineer in Sandusky by 1910. His wife was named Bertha, and they had two children, Geraldine and Robert, Jr. (Sadly Geraldine died in 1927.)  In 1911, Mayor George Lehrer selected Mr. Wagar to be city engineer for Sandusky. In 1916 he helped to found the construction company of Homberger and Wagar, where he was enployed for sixteen years. 

Mr. Wagar became Sandusky City Manager in 1933 and served in this position until 1936. He served again in the position from 1938 to May of 1941. 

In the December 30, 1934 issue of the Sandusky Register, Robert L.J. Wagar explained how he had two middle names.

In 1942 Mr. Wagar moved to Bellevue, where he served as safety service director and city engineer. He improved the quality of the water supply in Bellevue with the construction of a 700,000,000 gallon reservoir. It was under Wagar’s direction that Goodrich Road was constructed, and by his efforts that a soy bean plant was brought to Bellevue. 

On May 3, 1950, at the age of 70, Mr. Wagar died at the Bellevue Hospital after suffering from heart disease. Funeral services were held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Bellevue, and burial was at Sandusky’s Oakland Cemetery. Mr. Wagar had been a member of the National and Ohio Society of Professional Engineers, Kiwanis Club, Elks, Masons, Sandusky Garden Club. One of his favorite hobbies was the propagation of dahlias, to the point that he was originating new varieties. Mr. Wagar will long be remembered for his leadership role in the communities of both Sandusky and Bellevue.