Thomas A. Wagoner
Thomas A. Wagoner was born September 1, 1939, the son of Thomas and Cecelia Wagoner of Wood River, Nebraska.
He was educated at Wood River Public Schools, graduating in 1956.
Thomas enrolled at the University of Nebraska receiving a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1960.
He was accepted into the University of Nebraska School of Law where he received a L.L.B. in 1963. He enlisted in the United States Navy and entered into active duty at the Officers Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island in July of 1963. He graduated and was commissioned in the U.S. Navy on November 22, 1963. President Kennedy was supposed to be their commissioning speaker, but he went to Texas instead and history unfolded.
His first assignment was in Norfolk, Virginia with the U.S.S. Pocono (A6C-16) where he served one year as the Legal Officer and earned his surface warfare pin.
He was then reassigned to San Diego, California where he was the Assistant Legal Officer at the 32nd Street Naval Station for 2 years.
He volunteered to extend his duty and was assigned to J.A.G. Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he was in the criminal division for a year and a half. While in Washington, he enrolled in George Washington University and received an L.L.M. in February of 1968.
Mr. Wagoner was released from the Navy in May of 1968. He returned to Omaha, Nebraska where he was employed in the legal department of Northern Natural Gas for three years.
He then relocated to Grand Island, Nebraska where he entered the private practice of law with his uncle, John A. Wagoner, Sr., a Veteran of World War II who flew B-2s over “The Hump” from India to China, in 1970. He continues to practice extensively in civil and criminal courts throughout central Nebraska for over 50 years now.
Mr. Wagoner has 3 children: Thomas A. Wagoner, Jr. (Mick) of Omaha, Nebraska. Mick is a retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel. Nicolette Wagoner resides in Corning, New York. She graduated from Duke University and Columbia University and works as an Urban Planner. Kathryn Stoka resides in Miami Beach, Florida. She is a graduate of Marquette University and has worked extensively in Real Estate. She also invented and received the patent for magnetic eyelashes.
In addition, Mr. Wagoner has 2 brothers, Dennis Wagoner and Daniel Wagoner of Wood River, Nebraska who are both Army Veterans’ and 2 sisters, Mary Wagoner and Judy Wagoner also of Wood River as well as 8 grandchildren.
