A steady contributor to the 1953-54 freshman team, Richard (Dick) Wagner's varsity career was cut short by a broken leg suffered before the onset of the 1954-55 season. he played in just three games over the next two seasons.

Following college, Wagner joined the family business, Wagner Brothers Feed Company, which grew into one of the world's leading producers of commercial bird seed from its headquarters in Farmingdale, NY. He later served as president of the company prior to his death in 2001.