Cyril “Cy” Wagner, Jr., spent his childhood in Tulsa and graduated from Central High School in 1952. Initially pursuing a medical degree, Cy changed majors at the University of Oklahoma to pursue a career in the oil business. He graduated with a degree in geology from OU in 1956 and only six years later formed Wagner & Brown, Ltd. Based out of Midland, Texas, the firm maintained offices in several states while additional energy operations included gas gathering and marketing, crude oil marketing, pipeline construction, and operation.

As an investor and entrepreneur Wagner was also involved in real estate, diversified manufacturing, and investments. Wagner was a recipient of OU’s Distinguished Achievement Award, an Energy Center founder, a Distinguished OU Associate, and a founding member of the Seed Sower Society. He was also a major donor to the Great Expectations Campaign for Sooner Sports and the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. He created numerous endowments, funding the renovation of the Wagner dining hall that serves OU’s varsity athletes, a $2.5 million gift for the construction of OU’s Student Academic Services Center, and a Sooner Heritage Scholarship fund.