David S. Wagner, FACHE, recently passed away after a tragic accident. David was a huge supporter of ACHE, our Chapter, and the community at large. As a Chapter, we are setting up an masters-level scholarship in his memory, as part of our Fall Academic Scholarships, which are awarded annually to local MHA/MPH/MBA students focused on Healthcare Management and active in our Chapter’s activities.
To read more about his life, please check out his obituary, which is linked to this page. If David had an effect on your life, please consider making a tax-deductible donation in his memory using the button below. This will take you to our Educational Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization. Thank you for your prayers and your support!
David Scott Wagner, 64, was received into heaven on Friday, August 23, 2024.
Born in Tampa, Florida, on December 3, 1959, David grew up an Air Force brat and moved every 3 years. Due to relocating so frequently, he had a special bond with his brother and sisters. To say they were close is an understatement.
David was a graduate of Churchill High School in San Antonio, Texas, received his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University and his Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from Trinity University. David was a hospital administrator for more than 37 years. In his career, he worked for a multitude of organizations including Presbyterian Health System in Dallas, Texas, Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview, Texas, CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital in Beeville, Texas and St. Francis Health System in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His current role was with HCA Healthcare in Pearland, Texas where he was Chief Executive Officer.
David was passionate about his role in helping others throughout his career and felt it was his mission to care for those who were in need of healthcare. As devoted as he was about the care of the patients that were under his roof, he was equally, if not more so devoted to those whom he considered his team. It was very important to David to know the names of all the employees he had the honor to work with and would lend a hand in any situation. He had been known to empty the trash in the Emergency Department during crisis situations and during holiday celebrations he was the first one in an uplifting costume to help round in the hospital and thank his team for their compassionate work.
One recent highlight of his career was in 2022 when HCA Pearland won first place for Modern Healthcare’s “Best Places to Work”. A nationwide award that made him so proud of everyone in his work family. David was on the board of the Pearland Chamber of Commerce and took anactive role in numerous community committees. He was serving on the advisory board for the Healthcare Administration Program in the School of Public Health at Texas A&M University and was also a Fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives.
David loved his family. Period. He was their biggest cheerleader. He was fiercely proud of his children and all they had accomplished. If you had a need, he would try and fill it. He thought out the process, figured out how to fix it and sometimes it was with baling wire and duct tape! He loved working with wood and designed and constructed many projects at his houses and homes of family members. He was thoughtful and loved people by doing for them constantly. He would surprise you with a project he had completed and waited for you to notice. He could do more in a weekend than anybody. He prided himself in keeping his property in immaculate condition; even vacant lots in the neighborhood which he mowed and cleared “just because.”
Favorite things of David’s: (in no particular order)
- Dancing in the barn to whatever music was blasting out of the speakers
- Anything having to do with a beach
- His chickens
- Watching his family do anything
- Rodeos
- Motorcycles
- Stacking river rocks
- RUSH
- AAAALLLLLL the dogs he helped rescue and foster
David is survived by his wife of 32 years, Karen; son, Jackson of Houston, Texas; daughter,
McKenna Koch and husband Hunter of Dublin, Texas; father, Donald Bert Wagner and wife Sara of Houston, Texas; sisters Kim Wagner Neuendorff and husband Tom of Fayetteville, Texas, and Susan Wagner Walton and husband David of Houston, Texas; brother, John “Mo” Wagner and wife Alisa of Marble Falls, Texas; father-in-law, Rodney Gail Kring of Lubbock, Texas; mother-in-law, Susan Reynolds Petty of Richardson, Texas; brother-in-law, Scott Kring and wife Leslie of Richardson, Texas; sister-in-laws Karen Petty McHugh and husband Robert of Richardson, Texas and Amy Kring Barrett and husband Randy of Spring, Texas; and a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Janet Bankert Wagner and his mother-in-law, Mary Ann Kring.
