In a world where birthdays are often celebrated with cake and candles, Robert F. Wagner—longtime Indianapolis attorney, community leader, and one of the founders of the Lewis Wagner law firm in the North Mass (NoMa) neighborhood of Indianapolis—chose something a little more enduring to mark his 90th birthday. Trees. Ninety of them, to be exact.
Wagner recently made an extraordinary gesture of gratitude and legacy—gifting trees to each of the members of his team in honor of his milestone birthday. Known for his decades-long career in law and his deep civic involvement, he has always believed in giving back.
Over the years, Wagner has been instrumental in planning, fundraising, and implementing various programs intended to beautify, enrich, and comprehensively improve the Indianapolis community, particularly within the Indianapolis city center. In the mid-1990s, he spearheaded efforts to plant hundreds of trees along West Street and received an award for Outstanding Individual for Urban Forestry for his dedication and commitment to Indiana’s urban forests. He has served as Chair or Vice Chair of the White River State Park Development Commission since 1995. His “90 Trees for 90 Years” gift is just the latest in his lifetime of community-centered efforts.
“When Mr. Wagner told me what he wanted to do to celebrate his 90th birthday, I knew who to call,” said Debra Dowdy, Lewis Wagner COO. “DIGS Garden Center at The Yard at North Mass is just down the street from us, and since they’re a locally owned, small business, it was the perfect fit for this plan.”
“This gift benefits not just the team members of Lewis Wagner, but the city of Indianapolis and beyond,” said Ashley (AJ) Justice, DIGS general manager. “Beyond the symbolism, this gift has real environmental value. Urban trees improve air quality, reduce stormwater runoff, and lower summer temperatures. We’ve sourced a great variety of trees for their team to choose from, and they can just walk down the street and pick one. The DIGS team will offer expert ‘planting and care advice, and we’ll even deliver the trees for them.”
“Planting a tree is a statement of hope,” Wagner said. “At 90 years old, I’m thinking more than ever about what we leave behind. These trees are my way of saying thank you—not just to my team, but to the beautiful city we call home.”
Members of the Lewis Wagner team will receive 1-3 trees each, based on their available space and ability to get the trees planted and will then mark the location of their newly planted trees on the interactive city map the program coordinators have created.
As the city of Indianapolis continues to grow, gestures like Wagner’s serve as a reminder of the power of legacy—and how even one person’s contributions can leave roots that grow far into the future. This gift isn’t just a personal celebration; it’s a tribute to his team, his city, and the generations to come.
Happy 90th, Mr. Wagner. Your generosity is already taking root.
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