Ex-U.S. Attorney L. G. Hagner dies

Former U.S. Atty. Leonard G. Hagner, 71, died yesterday in the Delaware Hospital.

Mr. Hagner. a Republican, had held several appointive offices in Wilmington and New Castle County governments before being named U.S. attorney for Delaware by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. He held that post until 1961.

Since then, Mr. Hagner had maintained a law office at 224 Philadelphia Pike. He and his wife, the former Wilhelmina Syfrit, lived on Foulk Road north of Naaman's Road.

Mr. Hagner had undergone surgery about a month ago and appeared to be recovering when he suffered a heart attack about two weeks ago in the hospital, according to his family.

During his two terms as U.S. attorney, Mr. Hagner won praise from U.S. Attys. Gen. Herbert Brownwell Jr. and William P. Rogers for his successful handling of many cases, particularly those involving violations of the internal revenue laws.

Named Republican city chairman in 1939, Mr. Hagner led his party in the campaigns of 1940 and 1944. In 1936 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention.

In 1946, when J. Caleb Boggs was elected to Congress, Mr. Hagner resigned as city chairman to fill Boggs' unexpired term as deputy judge of the New Castle County Family Court. He was appointed by the late Gov. Walter W. Bacon and renamed for one-year terms in 1947 and 1948.

Mr. Hagner was born in Wilmington and attended city schools. He was graduated from Wilmington High School in 1911 and four years later from Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa.

After a year of study at Harvard Law School, Mr. Hagner served about two years in the U.S. Army in World War I. He enrolled at Georsge Washington University after the war and received his degree of bachelor of laws in 1922. The same year he was admitted to the bar and began his practice with Sylvester Townsend Jr. in Wilmington.

From 1923 to 1928, Mr. Hagner was deputy attorney general for New Castle County and from 1931 ro 1933 he was assistant city solicitor under Mayor Frank C. Sparks. He was appointed to that post again in 1940 by then Mayor Bacon in 1904 and served until late 1945.

During World War II he worked with Civil Defense and Selective Service. He was an active member of the Delaware Society, Sons of the American Revolution, and rarely missed a meeting of the Wilmington Civil War Round Table. He also was secretary of the Fort Delaware Society.

In addition to historical interests, Mr. Hagner was a Mason and a member of the Delaware Consistory. He belonged to the Harvard and Dickinson Clubs of Delaware, Alpha Chi Rho fraternity and the Young Men's Republican Club.

Surviving, besides his widow, are a brother Charles Albert Hagner, Cambridge, Mass., and a sister, Mrs. Joseph Clark, Wilmington.

Funeral services will be held this morning at 11 at the Chandler Funeral Home, Delaware Ave. and Jefferson St., with interment in Riverview Cemetery.

(The Morning News, Wilmington, DE, 24 May 1965 (Monday), Page 8)
(Newspapers.com)

Ex-U.S. Attorney L. G. Hagner dies

Former U.S. Atty. Leonard G. Hagner, 71, died yesterday in the Delaware Hospital.

Mr. Hagner. a Republican, had held several appointive offices in Wilmington and New Castle County governments before being named U.S. attorney for Delaware by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. He held that post until 1961.

Since then, Mr. Hagner had maintained a law office at 224 Philadelphia Pike. He and his wife, the former Wilhelmina Syfrit, lived on Foulk Road north of Naaman's Road.

Mr. Hagner had undergone surgery about a month ago and appeared to be recovering when he suffered a heart attack about two weeks ago in the hospital, according to his family.

During his two terms as U.S. attorney, Mr. Hagner won praise from U.S. Attys. Gen. Herbert Brownwell Jr. and William P. Rogers for his successful handling of many cases, particularly those involving violations of the internal revenue laws.

Named Republican city chairman in 1939, Mr. Hagner led his party in the campaigns of 1940 and 1944. In 1936 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention.

In 1946, when J. Caleb Boggs was elected to Congress, Mr. Hagner resigned as city chairman to fill Boggs' unexpired term as deputy judge of the New Castle County Family Court. He was appointed by the late Gov. Walter W. Bacon and renamed for one-year terms in 1947 and 1948.

Mr. Hagner was born in Wilmington and attended city schools. He was graduated from Wilmington High School in 1911 and four years later from Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa.

After a year of study at Harvard Law School, Mr. Hagner served about two years in the U.S. Army in World War I. He enrolled at Georsge Washington University after the war and received his degree of bachelor of laws in 1922. The same year he was admitted to the bar and began his practice with Sylvester Townsend Jr. in Wilmington.

From 1923 to 1928, Mr. Hagner was deputy attorney general for New Castle County and from 1931 ro 1933 he was assistant city solicitor under Mayor Frank C. Sparks. He was appointed to that post again in 1940 by then Mayor Bacon in 1904 and served until late 1945.

During World War II he worked with Civil Defense and Selective Service. He was an active member of the Delaware Society, Sons of the American Revolution, and rarely missed a meeting of the Wilmington Civil War Round Table. He also was secretary of the Fort Delaware Society.

In addition to historical interests, Mr. Hagner was a Mason and a member of the Delaware Consistory. He belonged to the Harvard and Dickinson Clubs of Delaware, Alpha Chi Rho fraternity and the Young Men's Republican Club.

Surviving, besides his widow, are a brother Charles Albert Hagner, Cambridge, Mass., and a sister, Mrs. Joseph Clark, Wilmington.

Funeral services will be held this morning at 11 at the Chandler Funeral Home, Delaware Ave. and Jefferson St., with interment in Riverview Cemetery.

(The Morning News, Wilmington, DE, 24 May 1965 (Monday), Page 8)
(Newspapers.com)