SENATE RESOLUTION 41

(By Senators Maynard, Cole (Mr. President), Ashley, Beach, Blair, Boley, Boso, Carmichael, Cline, Facemire, Ferns, Gaunch, Hall, Karnes, Kessler, Kirkendoll, Laird, Leonhardt, Miller, Mullins, Palumbo, Plymale, Prezioso, Romano, Snyder, Stollings, Sypolt, Takubo, Trump, Unger, Walters, Williams, Woelfel and Yost)

[Introduced February 19, 2016.]

Memorializing the life of the Honorable A. Keith Wagner, former member of the West Virginia Senate and dedicated public servant.

Whereas, The Honorable A. Keith Wagner was born in Bristol, Tennessee, on February 3, 1953, the son of Betty Washington Robinson Wagner and the late William H. “Bill” Wagner; and

Whereas, The Honorable A. Keith Wagner attended the public schools of McDowell County, West Virginia, and graduated from Big Creek High School in War, West Virginia; and

Whereas,  The Honorable A. Keith Wagner was awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education at Bluefield State College and was an alumnus of West Virginia Institute of Technology, Marshall University and the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies; and

Whereas, The Honorable A. Keith Wagner served as the Director of the Pride of Iaeger High School’s Band of Gold, a band that was recognized throughout the southeastern United States. He also served River View High School in Bradshaw, West Virginia, as The Voice of the Raiders; and

Whereas, The Honorable A. Keith Wagner received one the greatest honors of his life, when he directed The Pride of West Virginia Mountaineer Marching Band at a performance at River View High School; and

Whereas, The Honorable A. Keith Wagner was elected to the West Virginia Senate in 1988 as a representative of the Sixth Senatorial District, where he served until 1996.  During his tenure, he served as Chairman of the Committee on Government Organization, Chairman of the Committee on Interstate Cooperation, Chairman of the Committee on Transportation, Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Government Operations; and as a member of the Committees on Banking and Insurance, Education, Judiciary, Labor and Energy, Industry and Mining; and

Whereas, The Honorable A. Keith Wagner went on to serve as the Deputy Commissioner of the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Commission under the administrations of Governor Cecil H. Underwood, Governor Bob Wise and Governor Joe Manchin, III. During his time as Deputy Commissioner, he was vital in creating a drunk driving simulator program that traveled around the state to schools showing students the effects of drinking and driving; and

Whereas, The Honorable A. Keith Wagner was active in community and civic affairs. He served as the Charter President of the Tau Kappa Epsilon Chapter at West Virginia Institute of Technology, as a member of the War Kiwanis Club and was secretary of the Berwind Masonic Lodge 414; a long-time member of the Calvary Baptist Church in War, West Virginia; and a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Iaeger, West Virginia; and

Whereas, The Honorable A. Keith Wagner was married to his beloved wife, Vickie, with whom he shared the joy of having two children: Adam and Afton; and

Whereas, Sadly, the Honorable A. Keith Wagner passed away on September 15, 2014, leaving behind a host of family and friends, all of whom miss him dearly; and

Whereas, It is fitting, that on this day, the Senate pay tribute to the life and legacy of the Honorable A. Keith Wagner; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby memorializes the life of the Honorable A. Keith Wagner, former member of the West Virginia Senate and dedicated public servant; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate extends its most sincere and heart-felt condolences to the family of the Honorable A. Keith Wagner; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the family of the Honorable A. Keith Wagner.