Jerry Wagstaff- WVC Commissioner

Jerry Wagstaff: Business Leader and Founding City Commissioner

Jerry Wagstaff was a respected businessman and civic leader whose steady hand and community commitment helped shape the early development of West Valley City. Best known as the owner of Holiday Oil, a successful locally founded service station chain, Wagstaff combined entrepreneurial vision with a deep dedication to public service.

When the communities of Granger, Hunter, and Redwood came together to form West Valley City in 1980, Wagstaff was elected as one of the city’s first commissioners, serving alongside Mayor Henry (Hank) Price and Commissioner Renee Mackay. Together, the three formed the city’s inaugural governing body—responsible for guiding the transition from unincorporated township to Utah’s second-largest municipality.

In December 1981, the West Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and The Green Sheet newspaper honored Wagstaff and his fellow leaders for their pioneering service. During the ceremony, publisher Jim Cornwell described him as “an extraordinarily stabilizing factor in the establishment of this new municipality.” Despite the demands of running a large and growing business, Wagstaff freely offered his time, energy, and expertise to help build a new city government from the ground up—an effort many initially doubted could succeed.

A self-starter with quiet determination, Wagstaff was admired for his balanced judgment and levelheaded approach to challenges. His leadership in both business and city affairs reflected his belief in community responsibility and progress through cooperation. Holiday Oil, under his direction, became a local success story—providing fuel, jobs, and a familiar hometown presence throughout the Salt Lake Valley.

Jerry Wagstaff’s legacy endures in the continued success of Holiday Oil and in the lasting strength of the city he helped to establish. His contributions exemplify the spirit of service and enterprise that have defined West Valley City since its founding.,