Charles Wright Obituary

Charles Wesley Wright, Jr., who served two terms as Mayor of Topeka, Kansas, died in Topeka on December 27, 2016. Charles was born on August 17, 1919. His parents, Charles W. and Mary Kanode Wright, Perry, Kansas, predeceased him as did a sister, Mary Eloise Magnuson. His sister, Ruth Hupe, Perry, Kansas, survives.

Chuck Wright, as he was known to his friends, graduated from Topeka High School, Class of 1937, and Kansas University, 1941, with a BFA degree. One month after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a Hospital Corpsman during World War II, graduating first in his class at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. While stationed in the South Pacific, Chuck applied for a transfer to the United States Marine Corps and was accepted into the USMC Officer's Candidate School in Quantico, VA. Upon graduation, Second Lieutenant Wright was re-assigned to Peleliu Island in the South Pacific where he was preparing his unit for the invasion of the Japanese homeland when the atomic bombs ended the Pacific hostilities. After the end of World War II, Chuck continued to serve in the USMC Reserve, retiring as a Captain.

Chuck married his high school sweetheart, Alice Clare Brownfield, on September 2, 1944 in Washington, D.C. They were married for 63 years, until her death in 2008. Chuck and Alice Clare had three children, Charles Wright III, who predeceased him, Douglas Wright, Topeka and Catherine Howard, Lecompton, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Chuck worked as the Assistant to the Advertising Manager for Standard Oil in Chicago until 1954 when he returned to Topeka and established the Patterson-Wright Advertising Agency with his cousin, Duane Patterson. In 1961, Chuck embarked on a political career, serving two terms as Topeka's Street Commissioner from 1961 to 1965 and two terms as Mayor of Topeka from 1965 to 1969.

On June 8, 1966, Topeka was struck by a devastating tornado. Mayor Wright worked tirelessly to provide the leadership that allowed Washburn University, the city of Topeka, and the citizens of his beloved city to recover from this disaster. He coordinated the recovery and redevelopment efforts enlisting the help and gaining the support of the Topeka City Commission, the Shawnee County Commission, Governor Bill Avery, the Kansas Congressional delegation, and President Lyndon Johnson.

Soon after leaving public office in Topeka, Chuck and his wife moved to 70 acres of land west of Lecompton, Kansas that had been in his family since the original land grant was issued to one of his ancestors by President James Buchanan. Chuck and Alice Clare built a home and planted thousands of Christmas trees on their property. For many years, they operated Edgewood Tree Farm, a choose-and-harvest Christmas tree farm where area families bought their Christmas tree. Chuck and his wife published Christmas Trees Magazine, with a worldwide circulation, for owners of Christmas tree farms. Chuck helped to start the Kansas Christmas Tree Growers Association and served as an officer and board member. He also served on the board of the regional Mid America Christmas Tree Association and was presented with the Mike Gwinner award for service to the Christmas tree industry. In 2002, the National Christmas Tree Association honored Chuck with the first Outstanding Service to the Christmas Tree Industry Award.

Chuck served several terms as an elected trustee for Lecompton Township in Douglas County, and he helped secure public and private funding for the Lecompton Historical Society that led to the renovation of Lane University in Lecompton.

Chuck was a member of Delta Chi Fraternity, the KU Alumni Association, and served as President of the KU Gold Medal Club. While a student at the University of Kansas, Chuck organized Dandelion Day on April 23, 1941 where 85 teams of students and faculty dug 8,150 pounds of dandelions followed by contests and parties. Besides supporting the Delta Chi Chapter at the University of Kansas, Chuck supported the Delta Chi Chapter at Washburn University, and was instrumental in establishing the Delta Chi Chapter at Kansas State University. Chuck's son, Charles, and his grandsons Adam Wright and James Howard were also members of Delta Chi at the University of Kansas.

Chuck was a 60-year Legion of Honor member of the Downtown Topeka Kiwanis Club and served as Kansas Lieutenant Governor. At one time was a member of the Lawrence Kiwanis Club. Chuck earned the Kiwanis Tablet of Honor, and was awarded the George F. Hixson Fellowship. In 2016, Chuck was presented with the Walter Zeller Fellowship by the Downtown Topeka Kiwanis Club.

A visitation will be Monday, January 2, 2017 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 1701 SW Collins Avenue, Topeka, Kansas. A memorial service will be at First Congregational Church on Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at 11 a.m. Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Donations may be made to the Washburn University Chuck & Alice Clare Wright Athletic Scholarship Fund, 1729 SE MacVicar Avenue, Topeka, KS 66604 or to the Jayhawk Area Council, Boy Scouts of America 1020 SE Monroe St., Topeka, KS 66612.