Family members accept medal Tuesday for fire investigator's organ donation

Capt. Mark Wagner served 30 years, training and investigating more than 2,400 fires

• By Mike Baird

CORPUS CHRISTI — Longtime Corpus Christi Fire Department instructor and lead fire investigator Mark Wilson Wagner served the community for 30 years, and in death has continued.

His family members wept at a memorial ceremony at 10 a.m. Tuesday, marking his organ donation.

Wagner died Sunday after a stroke. He was 53.

“This organ donor recognition ceremony comes amid great loss and grief,” said Christus Spohn Hospital Shoreline Chaplain Donna Dickerson. “What you have chosen to do today will be a shining tribute to the community your loved one served.”

Wagner was hired at the department in January 1980 and promoted to captain in 1987. He has been the only full time investigator for eight years, having sifted through charred remains of more than 2,400 fires, officials said.

About 75 of the fire department’s about 435 employees stood silently as Wagner’s firefighter wife, Capt. Angela Williams, cupped her hands over her face to watch an organ donor flag raised in his name. She then comforted a son and two daughters as a donor appreciation medal was presented to them by Reynaldo Orozco, family service coordinator for Southwest Transplant Alliance.

Fire Marshal Andy Cardiel said he will miss the early morning greeting from Wagner: “It’s on chief, strong and hot, the way you like,” as coffee brewed.

“I’m going to miss that,” Cardiel said. “Mark was very special. He knew what to say and do, someone like that can’t be replaced.

Fire station flags were lowered to half-mast Monday and will remain until services are over, Cardiel said. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday at Central Christian Church, 6301 Weber Road.

“This is tough,” said Assistant Chief Randy Paige, who was trained by Wagner. “The holidays make it a double impact, but firefighters are a strong community. Mark was a man who smiled at you, no matter the difficult job to be done. We all will miss him.”