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| Spring 2002 | a publication for alumni, family, and friends |
Long before DWU promoters coined the phrase, "preparing students for a lifetime of learning, leadership, faith and service," Bob '36 and Frances (Blessing) '38 Wagner were already taking the concept very seriously. Now, nearly 70 years after they first set foot on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan, plans are in place to honor them for their commitment. The Wagner Chapel will be a place for quiet reflection, prayer and meditation within the planned Sherman Center. However, the Wagner Chapel began as a way for a wife to pay tribute to her husband. Frances remembers when she first saw Bob, a student recruiter for Dakota Wesleyan University. "Oh, I was so shy and afraid to talk," she says, remembering the girl she was in 1934. Bob remembers the visit, too. "She didn't say a word," he says. But she came to Dakota Wesleyan. That visit was the beginning of their long connection with the school. Bob was at DWU with the intention of going on to law school, and Frances came to Wesleyan to become a teacher. Bob's plans changed, though. "I finally decided that by being a minister and working with people, I could make more of a difference in people's lives," he said. Shortly after their marriage in 1939, Bob and Frances moved to Boston where he attended seminary. When they returned to South Dakota, the conference sent them to Spearfish where Bob was to be the pastor at First United Methodist Church. The Wagners have lived all over the state of South Dakota serving the church, and in 1950 they moved to Mitchell. In 1955 when the Wagners were living in Mitchell, and Bob was the pastor at First United Methodist Church, disaster struck Dakota Wesleyan University: College Hall burned down. "The board of trustees wanted to raise the money (to rebuild) before the tears dried," Bob said. The conference made the quick decision to "loan" Bob to DWU so he could lead the fund-raising effort to rebuild. "They felt Bob was loyal to Wesleyan," said Frances. "Wesleyan has been our school for so long." The Sunday after the fire, Bob was scheduled to speak at another church, so he tape recorded a message to his congregation, titled, "Out of Disaster Will Come a New Day." A revised version of this title, "Out of Disaster into a New Day," became the theme of the fund-raising campaign to rebuild College Hall. The Mitchell community, DWU alumni and the conference all contributed to the success of the campaign led by Bob Wagner. Bob also credits other key individuals for making a positive impact on Dakota Wesleyan. "It really saved the school when Matt Smith was brought in as president," he says. "Matt Smith and Gordon Rollins are the two men responsible for the success of Wesleyan." Rollins, former business manager for DWU, says Wagner showed total dedication as he told the Wesleyan story across the state by writing letters, making personal calls and giving sermons in the churches. "The churches responded magnificently," he says, "as did the alumni and the Mitchell community." Although the Wagners left Mitchell to lead churches in Rapid City and Sioux Falls, they returned in 1971 so Bob could serve as interim president at DWU when Robert Huddleston left suddenly. "Those were tense times," says Rollins. "Reverend Wagner did what he had to do to reduce operating expenses." Frances Wagner has been a large part of Bob's support system through the years, raising the couple's four daughters (three of whom attended Wesleyan) and serving as a pastor's wife. Both of the Wagners have served as trustees for DWU, and have received honorary doctor's degrees. Frances continues to serve as an honorary trustee. Rollins describes Frances as "a general soul-lifter." "She has spent her life trying to improve the present moment," he said, using the words of John Wesley. It was Frances who decided rather abruptly that DWU needed to honor her husband. "At a board meeting I had the desire to just do
something for Bob because he's been so committed to Wesleyan," she said. "We have always felt that there should be more of a chapel than what we had. If I were a student at Wesleyan again, I would like a place where I could go and just meditate." When asked about her dreams for Dakota Wesleyan's future, Frances said, "I think I want Wesleyan to be a place where religion isn't a separate part, but all classes are based on the right principles. Faith should be an integral part of everything." "One needs to have faith in God, faith in other people
and faith in yourself," Bob adds. "You must be willing to take chances." Dakota Wesleyan University |
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Lori Essig