From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Oct. 26, 1989:

Henry Michael “Mike” Wildgen had been appointed the previous evening as acting city manager by the Lawrence City Commission, which had met in emergency session for the purpose of appointing a successor to Buford Watson, who had passed away. In front of a subdued gathering including city department heads, city hall employees, and others, commissioners had unanimously adopted an ordinance appointing Wildgen to the post of acting city manager. “None of us expected to be here this afternoon, and it’s unfortunate,” Mayor Bob Schumm said at the opening of the meeting. “We lost a great friend and a great administrator and a great human being…. We all loved him and respected him dearly.” New acting city manager Wildgen, a Hoisington native, had come to Lawrence in 1974 as assistant city manager and had served under Watson for 15 years. After taking an oath of office, Wildgen expressed his gratitude for the confidence the commission had placed in him and pledged to carry on Watson’s work and to help provide the best possible city services.