Former mayor dies Thurs.

A former Green River resident and longtime mayor of the city died Thursday at his home in Laramie.

Richard Waggener was born in Green River Jan. 24, 1930, and would become a key member of the community before leaving the city in 1988. Waggener was elected to the Green River City Council in 1969 and served as Green River’s mayor form 1971 to 1983. During his time as mayor, Waggener was active in both the National League of Cities and the Wyoming Association of Municipalities. He serves as president of WAM from 1977 to 1979. After his term as mayor ended, he was elected to the Wyoming House of Representatives in 1984 and served one term with the Wyoming Legislature. He would later leave Green River and move to Cheyenne to become WAM’s assistant director in 1988, a job he would hold until 1997.

He also served on several municipal and volunteer boards, including the Green River Planning and Zoning Commission, Sweetwater County Economic Development Association, United Way of Sweetwater County and the Sweetwater County Republican Party. He served seven appointments under two Wyoming governors, including the Wyoming Private Industry Council, the Telecommunications Advisory Committee and the Council for Vocational Education.

Funeral services take place Friday in Laramie.