Jim Wagner, Civic and Business Leader, Dead at 57

Jim Wagner, a Burbank civic and business leader known for wearing red socks, has died. He was 57.

Wagner suffered a fatal heart attack Nov. 19 after playing racquetball at the Burbank YMCA, according to his family.

Born Oct. 17, 1939 in Chicago, Wagner earned a business degree from the University of Illinois. In 1959 he began a six-year stint in the U.S. Army, during which he married and moved to California. In 1966, he and his wife, Mary Lou, settled in Burbank where he became a commercial real estate agent.

When Wagner moved to California, he was given a pair of red socks by his father-in-law, said his colleague, Marva Murphy. Wagner believed the socks brought him good luck. Someone else gave him another pair of red socks, which Wagner said brought him more good luck. He then began wearing red socks exclusively--even with his business suits--and his personalized auto license plate read “Red Sox.”

At the time of his death, Wagner was the president of the downtown Burbank Stakeholders Assn. Twice elected president of the Burbank Noon Lions Club, he also served on the city of Burbank Planning Board and as chairman of the Burbank Department of Parks and Recreation.

In 1993, he received the Burbank Board of Realtors Citizen of the Year Award.

The flag at Burbank’s City Hall was lowered to half staff in his memory Thursday.

In addition to his wife, Wagner is survived by a son, Jimmy Wagner of Valencia; a daughter, Cynthia Wagner of Seal Beach; his parents, James and Gretchen Wagner; two brothers, Tom Wagner and Bill Wagner; three sisters, Mary Wagner, Barbara Colwell, and Susan Schumacher, two grandchildren and 30 nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Sunday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Valley Funeral Home, 2121 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank. A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Francis Church, 3801 Scott Road, Burbank.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Francis Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the James Joseph Wagner Memorial Fund, c/o Burbank Noon Lions Club Charities, Inc., 303 N. Glenoaks Blvd., Suite 750, Burbank 91502.