Charles Ronald Hagler

1940 - 2024

Ron Hagler died peacefully in his sleep on Friday, January 12 2024 at his home in Grapevine, Texas. He donated his body to Texas Southwestern Medical and a celebration of life will be held at a future date where he will be interred beside his late wife in Elgin, Ok.

Ron was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, on July 22, 1940 to Lewis Del Hagler and Bernice Wright Hagler. He went to high school in Lawton and worked in his family's restaurant, Kater Inn for many years. He married Darlene Hagler and moved to Lake City, Colorado in 1959 where they opened a sporting goods store which he ran for 3 years. Ron was an avid fisherman, skeet shooter, and hunter being very proud of getting the "Big 5" in bird hunting in 1976. Ron was highly intelligent and was self-taught in all that he accomplished.

Ron was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 2015. He began his career as a news film cameraman at KSWO-TV in Lawton during his senior year and moved his family to Tulsa where he was chief photographer for KOTV in Tulsa from 1963 to 1967. He was co-owner of Hagler-Callaway Productions for 17 years, producing commercial and industrial films which won numerous ADDY and National awards. In 1983 he joined CBS as a freelance technician out of the Dallas Bureau. For 23 years, he covered major news events around the world, including the Oklahoma City bombing, the 1989 California earthquake, Waco, and was part of an Emmy award winning team covering the Mexico City earthquake in 1985.

Ron is survived by 1 son, Paul Hagler, of Broken Arrow, Ok; 1 daughter, Carrie Hagler of Tulsa, Ok; 1 granddaughter, Courtney Hagler of Tulsa, Ok; 1 grandson and spouse, Christian and Rachel Hagler of Ogden, Utah; and 2 great-grandchildren, Ayla and Kason Hagler of Tulsa, Ok. He has 1 brother and sister-in-law living in Texas, David and Nikki Hagler, along with multiple nieces, nephews and greats. He is predeceased by 2 brothers, both parents, and his spouse, Darlene Hagler.

In his later years, Ron enjoyed spending his time with his dog, Sugar, who he stated was his "chick magnet". He had a biting sense of humor and was a great storyteller. Ron always stated that him and his dog would "go together" and Sugar passed away the same day at the age of 15 1/2. He had reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Sandra Snyder Helsel, who he called the "love of his life" and had many friends all over the United States. He will be missed greatly.