He’s a mean one…. Mr. Grinch! But, for those who know the man under the mask— he’s not actually mean. During the Shelby Christmas Stroll, many children were surprised, excited, and maybe a little scared at the sight of the Grinch walking the streets with Santa.
The man under the mask is none other than Shelby Elementary's own staff member, David Wagner. Wagner has been an active member of the community of Shelby for 20 years, and he has a noteworthy history of serving both his country and community.
Wagner grew up and spent his childhood in Puyallup, Washington. His childhood was full of family events and fun adventures with his dad. Wagner said, “I spent a lot of time outside fishing and camping with my dad.” Wagner had a lot of ups and downs during his childhood, but he said one of the major highlights was when he and his dad built his childhood home. Building the house taught him most of the carpentry skills he knows and uses today.
After high school, Wagner didn’t know what to do, so he enlisted in the US Navy and served 4 years. He said he joined the Navy over the other branches because his grandfather had served in the Army and Navy. His deployment allowed him to travel the world and visit a lot of countries he wouldn’t have traveled to otherwise. The Navy also blessed Wagner with his wife of more than 20 years, Dawn Wagner.
Wagner and his family moved to Shelby in August of 2003. Wagner said his favorite part of living in Shelby has been the people of the town. While living in Shelby, he has been active in the community the entire time. Wagner said the Chamber of Commerce Haunted House has been his favorite project to be a part of. He said he also coaches baseball and helps out around Youth Dynamics when he can.
Elementary Principal, Toni Miller, said, "he enjoys dressing up for all of the holidays... because the kids love it. " While some of the kids might be scared of him as the Grinch, they love him as their janitor.
