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Waggonner was born in Plain Dealing to Joe Waggonner, Sr. (June 11, 1873 – March 9, 1950), and the former Elizzibeth (unusual but correct spelling from grave marker) Johnston (November 23, 1882 – 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 – 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>
Waggonner was born in Plain Dealing to Joe Waggonner, Sr. (June 11, 1873 – March 9, 1950), and the former Elizzibeth (unusual but correct spelling from grave marker) Johnston (November 23, 1882 – 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 – 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 Theriot]] (pronounced TERRY OH), 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>
Shortly thereafter on July 23, 1960, Waggonner was nominated in the Democratic primary to the Louisiana State Board of Education, now the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Waggonner won the seat for the Third Public Service Commission District, a configuration since disbanded that then included twenty-eight north Louisiana parishes. Waggonner unseated the incumbent, C. Raymond Heard, and was then unopposed in the November 8 general election, in which [[John F. Kennedy]] defeated [[Richard M. Nixon]]. In this campaign, Waggonner posed as a more determined segregationist than his opponent.<ref>''Minden Press,'' July 25, 1960, p. 1.</ref> One of his advertisements proclaimed: "For: Our Youth and Segregation; Against: Federal Aid to Education."<ref>Waggonner advertisement, ''Minden Press,'' July 18, 1960, p. 5.</ref>
Shortly thereafter on July 23, 1960, Waggonner was nominated in the Democratic primary to the Louisiana State Board of Education, now the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Waggonner won the seat for the Third Public Service Commission District, a configuration since disbanded that then included twenty-eight north Louisiana parishes. Waggonner unseated the incumbent, C. Raymond Heard, and was then unopposed in the November 8 general election, in which [[John F. Kennedy]] defeated [[Richard M. Nixon]]. In this campaign, Waggonner posed as a more determined segregationist than his opponent.<ref>''Minden Press,'' July 25, 1960, p. 1.</ref> One of his advertisements proclaimed: "For: Our Youth and Segregation; Against: Federal Aid to Education."<ref>Waggonner advertisement, ''Minden Press,'' July 18, 1960, p. 5.</ref>