Our Heritage
Four Generations Since 1947
Family-owned and family-led for nearly 80 years, E.S. Wagner Company has grown from Northwest Ohio roots into a trusted heavy civil and site development contractor serving the Midwest and Southeast.
Lewis F. Wagner
Lewis E. “Whitey” Wagner
Lewis “John” Wagner
John C. Wagner, P.E.
Legacy of Leadership
For nearly eight decades, E.S. Wagner Company has remained family-owned and family-led, preserving the values, relationships, and accountability that have guided the business since its founding.
Generation 1
Lewis F. Wagner (in partnership with his son, Lewis E. Wagner)
1947 – Early Growth Years
Founded the company on integrity and hard work, establishing the culture and many of the business philosophies that still define ESW today.
Generation 2
Lewis E. “Whitey” Wagner
Growth Based on Reputation and Relationships
Expanded the company’s reputation through honesty, consistent delivery, pride in craftsmanship, and personal interaction.
Generation 3
Lewis “John” Wagner
More Than 40 Years of Leadership
Applying forward vision and limitless effort, guided ESW through decades of growth, diversification, and regional expansion while maintaining the company’s family-first values.
Generation 4
John C. Wagner
Current Leadership
Leading ESW into its next chapter, building on a strong foundation and driven to develop those around him while positioning the company for sustainable success.
Growing With Purpose
This video captures more than equipment and projects. It tells the story of a family-built company founded on hard work, determination, and a commitment to excellence that has endured for decades.
Founded in 1947, E.S. Wagner Company’s story began with a simple vision: do quality work, keep your word, and take pride in every project. These are the values that still guide the company today. Named after family matriarch Eleanor Sophia Wagner, the business started humbly in the late 1940s, with a spare bedroom serving as the first office.
In those early years, Lewis F. Wagner’s vision and guiding principles established the framework that would become the backbone of the company’s philosophy. Together with his son, Lewis E. “Whitey” Wagner, the men embodied the post World-War II American spirit, partnering to build the company’s reputation through honesty, hands-on work, and grit.
As the company grew, so did its capabilities. Beginning with the company’s first piece of equipment, a single dump truck parked in the alley behind the family home, E.S. Wagner continued to expand under Whitey’s guidance until handing off leadership to Lewis “John” Wagner in the late 1970s. John’s innovative spirit, tireless work ethic, and willingness to take on new and bigger challenges carried the company to new sectors and new regions with the same integrity and pride in delivering a superior product.
Over the decades, the company expanded beyond its Northwest Ohio origins, taking on increasingly complex infrastructure, site development, and heavy civil construction projects. As new opportunities emerged, ESW invested in people, equipment, and capabilities while remaining committed to the values that shaped its foundation.
John C. Wagner now leads E.S. Wagner into the future, honoring the company’s rich heritage and honoring the principles that helped transform a small family operation into one of the region’s most respected construction companies while fostering the growth of its people and creating opportunities for continued innovation, sustainability, and long-term success.
Today, E.S. Wagner Company serves clients across the upper Midwest and Southeastern United States. While the company has grown substantially since 1947, its mission statement remains unchanged: To be a team of professionals striving for excellence in the field of construction.
Our Journey
1947
E.S. Wagner Company, founded by Lewis F. Wagner and Lewis E. Wagner, with one single-axle dump truck.
1950s
Company establishes its reputation through commercial and industrial civil construction projects across Northwest Ohio.
1973
Expansion into larger industrial and site development projects, as well as water and wastewater plants and systems.
1980s
Third-generation leadership helps guide continued growth and diversification with expansion into highway and infrastructure projects in Ohio and Indiana. E.S. Wagner acquires the Boehk-Kethel Company, a small local structure company, which allowed further expansion into bridge and concrete structure markets.
1990s
Capabilities advance beyond traditional highway construction into broader civil markets, which included environmental clean-up and landfill construction.
2002
Acquired Thrift Brothers Construction in Greenville, SC, and made significant investment in equipment, self-performance capabilities, and expansion into the South Carolina highway market.
2005
Constructed the largest highway project in Ohio history at that time, RT. 30 – 26 miles.
2007
Expanded operations into North Carolina with the construction of the Third Parallel Runway at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.
2010s
Complemented an established public-sector construction portfolio by expanding into private commercial and industrial markets, with successful projects in the advanced manufacturing, energy, and automotive sectors throughout the Upper Midwest and Southeastern United States.
2020s
Fourth-generation leadership continues the company’s growth and evolution.
2022
Began construction on the Fourth Parallel Runway group of projects at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport as well as the StarPlus Energy battery manufacturing facility in Kokomo, Indiana.
2027
E.S. Wagner Company celebrates 80 years of family ownership and leadership.
Looking Toward 80
In 2027, E.S. Wagner will celebrate 80 years of continuous family leadership, a rare achievement built on integrity, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to quality. As we honor the foundation established in 1947, we are equally energized by the opportunities ahead. By developing the next generation of leaders, embracing innovation, and expanding our capabilities, we remain focused on shaping the future of heavy civil construction and creating lasting value for our clients, employees, and communities.