Earl Thomas Wagner was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on April 27, 1908. He attended both parochial and public schools. In 1930, he graduated from the Salmon P. Chase School of Law in Cincinnati. That same year, Wagner gained admission to the bar and began to practice law in Cincinnati.

Wagner worked as the district counsel of Home Owners Loan Corporation in 1933 and 1934. He then expanded his legal career by working as the special counsel to the attorney general of Ohio in 1937 and 1938. The next two years he worked as city solicitor of Sharonville, Ohio. Wagner later served as a member of the board of education of the Cincinnati School District from 1944-1947.

Wagner tried expanding the political part of his career by winning the 2nd District seat in Congress on the Democratic ticket in 1948. He lost his bid for re-election against the man he defeated, William Hess. He ran again in 1952 and 1954, losing to Hess both times.

Wagner served as the city solicitor of Addyston, Ohio, in 1952 and 1953 in between his Congressional campaigns. Finally, he left politics and returned to practicing law in Cincinnati. Wagner worked as general counsel for a savings and loan bank in Cincinnati as well.

Wagner died of cancer at a hospital in Cincinnati on March 6, 1990. He was married to Stella DiVirgilio. They had one son and three daughters. At the time of his death, he had 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Sources:
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
New York Times Archives

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