William Raymond Hagman Jr.

William Raymond Hagman, Jr. (Bill) passed away peacefully of a cardiac event at his home in Naples, Florida, on December 5th, 2025. He had just celebrated his 90th birthday with family and friends from across his long and remarkable life. Bill was born on October 4, 1935, in Pittsburg, Kansas, to parents William Raymond Hagman, Sr., and Avys Rae (Taylor) Hagman.  His paternal grandparents, William Tell and Agnes Hagman, first settled in Pittsburg in 1914 and began manufacturing candy in 1918. They started the wholesale business in 1928, which grew to be a third-generation candy and tobacco distributorship, operating from 1928 to 1998. After graduating from KU in 1957 he joined the family business. He attended IBM “college” in New York in 1959, as Hagman’s had ordered an IBM 401 tabulating machine, and continued to assume more responsibility, including supervision of multiple branches. Bill became President and CEO in 1979, expanding operations until 1998, when the business was merged with The Harrison Company where he remained a consultant until 2001.

Bill graduated from Pittsburg High School (PHS) in 1953, where he was editor of the yearbook. He earned the Eagle Scout award and Order of the Arrow. At KU (’57), he earned a degree in Economics with a minor in English Literature and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Interfraternity Council, Delta Sigma Rho (honorary speech fraternity), and the KU Debate team. After graduation, he joined the Army Reserves, where he served for seven years, including 6 months of active duty. He married Frances Smoley in 1959, also a KU graduate (’57), and settled in Pittsburg, raising two children, Jennifer and Alan. They divorced after 22 years of marriage.  

His community service in Pittsburg included membership at First Presbyterian Church, serving as a Deacon and Elder. He served on the Kansas Business Hall of Fame Board, Salvation Army Board, Pittsburg State University Campus Ministry Board, plus the boards of Atkinson Armature, Bottenfields, Inc., and City National Bank. He was president of the Pittsburg Noon Rotary Club, 1968-69, Board Member of the Chamber of Commerce, and MO-KAN Scouting District Commissioner for three years. Bill belonged to numerous Masonic organizations, including Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite, York Rite, Mirza Shrine, and the Royal Order of Jesters (Court 95, former director).

Bill married Dorothy (Dot) Almgren in 1981. Living primarily in Pittsburg, they also maintained a home in Kansas City where they were active in YPO (Young President’s Organization), WPO (World Presidents Organization) and held membership in the Carriage Club. They continued to expand the business in 1984 as The Hagman Corporation. They built a home in Naples, Florida in 1987 and enjoyed time in both Kansas and Florida. He was a loyal fan with season tickets for KU basketball and football, the Chiefs and Royals.

He served as Chairman and President of all three divisions of the National Association of Tobacco Distributors (NATD). He was inducted into the NATD Hall of Fame in 1989 and received the Sol Bornstein Humanitarian Award, the RJ Reynolds Leadership Award, and the Kolodny Young Executive Award. He was inducted into the Kansas Business Hall of Fame in 1990.  He also attended five industry sessions at Harvard Business School. He merged a family-controlled bank with Gold Banc Corporation of Leawood, Kansas, listed on the NASDAQ, and became a board director for Gold Banc and two Gold Banc subsidiary boards – First State Bank and Trust of Pittsburg, Kansas, and American Bank Corporation in Bradenton, Florida. 

After selling the business in 1998, Bill and Dot retired in Naples, Florida. He became more involved in the Naples business community and in 2001 founded a TEC group (The Executive Committee, a national organization of Presidents and CEO, now known as Vistage). As chairman of the Southwest Florida TEC group for the next decade (2001-2011), he mentored CEOs, provided guidance on managing family businesses and hosted business gatherings. 

Bill’s activities in Naples included President of the Wyndemere Homeowners Association and membership in Moorings Presbyterian Church where he was on the endowment investment committee. In Naples North Rotary, he was honored as Distinguished Rotarian in 2007 and received multiple Paul Harris awards. After 55 years as an active Rotarian (Kansas and Florida) he received Honorary Status. Bill was a founding board member of Gulf Coast Venture Forum, active with SAE Alumni, YPO 49-ers, WPO Gold, the Forum Club of Southwest Florida and Moorings Country Club. Within YPO, he was a board member and the founder and moderator of the Beach Boys Forum group. A lifelong Republican, he was a founding member of the Collier County Republican Club.

He was immensely proud to be a KU graduate, along with fifteen other family members who attended the university. Bill was an avid KU fan throughout his life and a loyal donor to the University.  He was a lifetime member of the Chancellor’s Club, The Elizabeth Watkins Society, President’s Club and the SAE House Corporation. In 2019, the family created an endowed scholarship in the KU School of Journalism honoring his late son, Alan Hagman, who was a photographer and photo editor with the Los Angeles Times. 

Bill and Dot traveled to 47 states and 55 countries, including multiple trips to Europe in support of their shared interests in antique dolls and toys, and Bordeaux wine. Bill was an avid reader and enjoyed golf throughout his life, playing until age 89. His interests also included collecting tobacco memorabilia, wine and Skookum Indians. He was a long-time member of the Antique Toy Collectors of America. He had an extensive collection of books on tobacco, which was one of the largest in America. Over 400 were donated to Pittsburg State Library to benefit the School of Business for the study of advertising. In 2014 they moved to Moorings Park, a senior living community in Naples. They continued to enjoy trips to Kansas, exploring Florida and Louisiana and traveling with friends and family.

Bill remained closely connected to Pittsburg, watching the Presbyterian church service every Sunday, having the Morning Sun delivered in Florida and staying in touch with friends and colleagues, including a meaningful trip to Pittsburg in July. He was fortunate to be in relatively good health until his last moment and was able to enjoy his 90th birthday celebrations just months before his passing. 

His philosophies of life were fivefold: 1) Always tell the truth and you do not have to remember what you said 2) In all your relationships, both business and personal, maintain them with fairness, integrity, and respect 3) Make your commitments strong and live every day with purpose, passion, and dignity  4) Never give up  5) Have faith, there is a God in heaven where we will all meet again.

Bill was an intriguing, multifaceted person of great intellectual depth. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 43 years, Dorothy Hagman (2024); his son, Alan Hagman (2019); and his brothers John (2022) and Ken (1997).  He is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Hagman MD (Don Hazell, Golden, CO), Stepdaughter, Phyllis Estrada (Leo, Overland Park, KS), his sister Sharon Redmond (Richard, Litchfield Park, AZ), grandchildren Marisa Hazell (Denver, CO) and Nicholas Hazell (Berlin, Germany), step-grandchildren Stephen Estrada (Jaime, Morgantown, WV) and Madeline Crawford (Brad, Prairie Village, KS), 3 great granddaughters, nephews Brian, Rob and Chris Hagman and numerous close friends and colleagues from across the United States. 

A memorial service will be held at the Pittsburg Presbyterian Church on Saturday, January 17th at 11 AM, followed by a reception in the Church Parlor, with interment at Highland Park Cemetery. The service will be live streamed at: https://youtube.com/live/-44PYyqgFMw?feature=share . The video will also be available on the Brenner Mortuary website. A Celebration of Life will be held in Naples, Florida at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Bill Hagman’s name can be made to the Pittsburg Presbyterian Church, 520 N.  Pine, Pittsburg, Kansas, 66762, or in support of the Alan Hagman Journalism Scholarship at KU Endowment, P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044 or give online at www.kuendowment.org/givenow.

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