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A businessman originally from Plain Dealing in Bossier Parish in northwestern Louisiana, Waggonner had an exemplary record in [[World War II]] and graduated from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]]. He was long active in Louisiana Tech alumni affairs. In the 1950s, he was a member of the Bossier Parish School Board. In 1961, he served on the elected Louisiana State Board of Education. In 1959, Waggonner was an unsuccessful primary candidate for the since disbanded position of Louisiana state comptroller, having run on the strongly [[segregation]]ist intra-party ticket headed by state Senator [[William Rainach]] of Claiborne Parish. Victory in the race went to another Democrat, [[Roy Theriot]].  

A businessman originally from Plain Dealing in Bossier Parish in northwestern Louisiana, Waggonner had an exemplary record in [[World War II]] and graduated from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]]. He was long active in Louisiana Tech alumni affairs. In the 1950s, he was a member of the Bossier Parish School Board. In 1961, he served on the elected Louisiana State Board of Education. In 1959, Waggonner was an unsuccessful primary candidate for the since disbanded position of Louisiana state comptroller, having run on the strongly [[segregation]]ist intra-party ticket headed by state Senator [[William Rainach]] of Claiborne Parish. Victory in the race went to another Democrat, [[Roy Theriot]].  

Waggonner was born in Plain Dealing to Joe David Waggonner, Sr. (June 11, 1873 &ndash; March 9, 1950), and the former Elizzibeth<!--(unusual but correct spelling from grave marker)--> Johnston (November 23, 1882 &ndash; December 24, 1957).  He graduated from Plain Dealing High School and in 1941 from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] in Lincoln Parish, at which he was a member of Kappa Sigma. On December 14, 1942, he married the former Mary Ruth Carter (born February 1921) The couple resided in their later years in [[Benton, Louisiana|Benton]], the [[County seat|seat of government]] of Bossier Parish, and then in the more populous [[Bossier City, Louisiana|Bossier City]].

Waggonner was born in Plain Dealing to Joe Waggonner, Sr. (June 11, 1873 &ndash; March 9, 1950), and the former Elizzibeth (unusual but correct spelling from grave marker) Johnston (November 23, 1882 &ndash; December 24, 1957).  He graduated from Plain Dealing High School and in 1941 from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] in Lincoln Parish, at which he was a member of Kappa Sigma. On December 14, 1942, he married the former Mary Ruth Carter (born February 12, 1921 &ndash; May 3, 2017), a native of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in Webster Parish. The couple resided in their later years in Benton, the seat of government of Bossier Parish, and then in the more populous [[Bossier City]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/179018956/mary-ruth-waggonner|title=Mary Ruth Carter Waggonner|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=June 28, 2020}}</ref>

During [[World War II]] and the [[Korean War]], Waggonner served in the [[United States Navy]], having attained the rank of [[lieutenant commander]]. He remained thereafter in the Naval Reserve.

During [[World War II]] and the [[Korean War]], Waggonner served in the [[United States Navy]], having attained the rank of [[lieutenant commander]]. He remained thereafter in the Naval Reserve.

He was first elected to public office in 1954 to a seat on the Bossier Parish School Board, of which he was president from 1956 to 1957. In 1959, Waggonner ran in the Democratic primary for the position of Louisiana state comptroller, previously known as auditorand since abolished. He was defeated for the nomination by [[Roy R. Theriot]], the mayor of Abbeville in Vermilion Parish in south Louisiana. Waggonner ran on the intra-party ticket]headed by [[Segregation in the United States|segregationist]] Governor|gubernatorial]] candidate [[William Rainach]], a state senator from Claiborne Parish.<ref>''[[Minden Press-Herald]]'', November 13, 1959, p. 13.</ref>

He was first elected to public office in 1954 to a seat on the Bossier Parish School Board, of which he was president from 1956 to 1957. In 1959, Waggonner ran in the Democratic primary for the position of Louisiana state comptroller, previously known as auditorand since abolished. He was defeated for the nomination by [[Roy R. Theriot]], the mayor of Abbeville in Vermilion Parish in south Louisiana. Waggonner ran on the intra-party ticket]headed by [[Segregation in the United States|segregationist]] Governor|gubernatorial]] candidate [[William Rainach]], a state senator from Claiborne Parish.<ref>''[[Minden Press-Herald]]'', November 13, 1959, p. 13.</ref>