Former Wythe supervisor, businessman dies

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

Outspoken, generous, dedicated, intelligent and loyal are how friends and colleagues described James E. “Eddie” Hagee, who died Wednesday of cancer at age 73. He was a longtime Wythe County businessman and member of the Wythe County Board of Supervisors.

“Eddie died a saved man,” said the Rev. Donald E. Stansell, pastor of Stage Road Chapel in Wytheville. “I was with him when he died at home around four minutes after five Wednesday. He was one of the greatest friends I’ve ever had. He loved our church and attended regularly until his health got so bad.”

Hagee, owner/operator of the Fort Chiswell BP Station, was supportive of his community. His generosity to various causes are legendary.

“Our hearts are broken here in the community,” said Maxine Waller, president of the Ivanhoe Civic League. “Eddie touched our lives in so many ways. He made a difference in a lot of people’s lives. He was always interested in what the people of the Lead Mines District wanted.”

According to Waller, Hagee made a generous regular donation toward the Civic League’s Christmas party for those in need in the community. He attended this year’s event for the last time.

“He was on a cane and I know he was really sick,” Waller recalled. “He told me he didn’t want to miss the children. He was a true American. He loved the community and the people and he supported his community and the people. We’re really going to miss him.”

Doug Brewer of Wytheville was assistant principal at Fort Chiswell High School during Hagee’s first term on the Wythe County Board of Supervisors, serving as the Fort Chiswell District supervisor from 1975 to 1980.

“He was a great supporter of Fort Chiswell High School,” Brewer said. “I know he donated personally to the band and other groups at the school. He was always willing to help.”

Hagee, a lifelong Democrat, later moved from his home on Chapman Road to a farm on Felts Lane in the Piney community. He was then in the Lead Mines District.

Coy McRoberts credited Hagee with his successful bid for supervisor of the Lead Mines District which Hagee held from 2002 to 2010 when he decided to retire. He had known Hagee for 40 years.

“He encouraged me to run for supervisor,” said McRoberts, who was serving at the Lead Mines District representative on the Wythe County School Board. “I told him I didn’t think I could do the job. He said he knew I could do it and he said he would help me any way he could. He was a big help to me. He was one of the best supervisors we’ve ever had. He always supported the local community.”

Former longtime supervisor and board chairman Wythe B. “Bucky” Sharitz first met Hagee when they served together on the Board of Supervisors.

“He was very outspoken,” Sharitz pointed out. “He looked out for the concerns of the county. He always respected whatever decision was made even if it wasn’t the one he wanted. He never held a grudge.”

Hagee’s pursuit of secondary road upgrades was also well-known among the Board of Supervisors and across the state. He fought loud and hard for the cause.

“He never gave up on that,” Sharitz added. “He had great mind and a good clear relationship with the citizens in his district.”

Hagee was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He was a member of the Wytheville Golf Club, the Wytheville Moose Lodge 394 and the Wytheville Masonic Lodge 82 and served on the board of Virginia Gasoline Retailers.

A graveside service for Hagee will be held Saturday, Jan. 28, at 11 a.m. at the Evergreen United Methodist Church Cemetery with American Legion Post 9 conducting military rites.

Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or wquesenberry@wythenews.com.