Year Inducted: 1991
Nominated By: Sam Corsentino
Sports Competed In: N/A
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Contributor
Education:
● Attended 12 grade schools in five different states and two High Schools
● Graduated from Pueblo Centennial H.S., on May 28, 1931 (he weighed 120 lbs.)
● Attended School District No. 20's "Opportunity Night School" at Pueblo Central H.S. in 1936.
Family History:
● Father drafted into infantry 1918, got TB and never returned home and Wright's mother was an Army Nurse and sent to Ft. Riley, Kansas.
● In 1925 the family was moving from Topeka, KS to Oregon and the car broke down in Pueblo and they stayed.
● For two years (1925-26) he caddied at the Pueblo Country Club and sold the Pueblo Chieftain (papers) at 6th & Main.
● Later received two paper routes and got six cents per week per paper (papers cost 15 cents a week).
● In 1926, volunteered in Boys Department a YMCA (for his membership) in charge of games, swimming pool and locker rooms.
● Three years later (1929), started teaching eight and nine year old boys swimming and swam for the older boys team.
● The Stock Market Crash of 1929 took his savings of $75.00 and so he hitch-hiked to Missouri and worked on a farm and went to high school for two months.
● For the next 18 years (1930-48), he lived at the YMCA in room 401 until he got married.
Athletics:
Basketball:
● Was a lightweight participant at Hinsdale Elementary for two years (1926-27, also played softball too).
● His team played against college teams from Lamar to Trinidad to Alamosa in the AAU tournaments.
Played for the following teams:
● Bear Axel (1939-50).
● Fountain Sand & Gravel (1950-51).
● Ladd Lumber (1951-52).
● Also played against pro teams for fundraisers for Elks charities:
● The All-American Red Heads girls team (met seven times).
● Harlem Globe Trotters with Marques Haynes, Al Pullins and "Goose" Tatum.
● New York Broadway Clowns.
Baseball:
● Played for several area baseball squads:
● American Legion (1928-29).
● Robinson-Gardner (second base).
● The Pueblo Chieftain (second base).
● Boone Merchants (1946-48).
● Eagles Lodge for a season (1949) before he sprained his knee and eventually ending his playing days.
Swimming:
Participant on the Y Swim Team.
Contributor:
● Volunteer Official Timer at Pueblo Catholic High (1947-48).
● Junior Board of Directors - City YMCA.
● Charter Member of the Centennial Booster Club - 1955.
● Charter Member College Booster Club 1957-1991 (present): Pueblo Junior College; Southern Colorado State College; University of Southern Colorado.
● Charter Member of the “Y" Men’s Club of Pueblo, Colorado in 1948.
● Contributor to Runyon Field and Boy’s Baseball Leagues.
Occupation:
Worked Bear Axel Wheel Service and taught swimming at the YMCA.
Personal:
Lived in Pueblo, CO with his wife, Mary V. Bolton...Passed away in October 8, 1994.
