Mary Jo Waddell Wagner
 |
2004
Mary Jo Waddell Wagner
Public Servant
Class of 1952
Mary Jo graduated from Beatrice High School in 1952 in the top ten percent of her class. She was a leader in many ways. She was on Student Council for 3 years, serving as President her senior year. She was a cheerleader 3 years, head cheerleader her junior year. She was assistant editor of the Homesteader and Toastmistress of the Orange and Black.
She was president of her class at Wellesley Graduation in 1956.
In Sioux Falls she served on the board of the South Dakota Symphony, All Saints School, and the Center for Western Studies. She chaired the Committee to Develop the Sioux Falls 21st Century Cultural Plan and served in the development of the Sioux Falls Pavilion, as a member of the board of the Northern Plains Tribal Arts Festival and on the US Bank Community Board. Her work on the boards of the Children's Home Society and the South Dakota Nature Conservancy were particularly meaningful to her in recent years. She was also very active in developing the Sioux Falls Arboretum. She and her husband devoted a great deal of time to the development of a four-year medical school at the University of South Dakota. The Karl and Mary Jo Wegner Health Science Information Center in Sioux Falls was established in recognition of their efforts.