William B. Wright

Commander William B. (Bill) Wright, USN (Ret.) passed away peacefully in the presence of his family on July 27th, 2013 after a long illness.  Bill was born on April 9,1928 in Anderson, South Carolina to Alvin McLenna and Elizabeth Robertson Wright. He attended Anderson Boy's High School where he was very active in sports. He was Captain of the Boy's High Yellow Jackets in 1944, a team coached by legendary high school coach, Bill Dillard, a strong mentor and role model. He was also very active in scouting, attained the rank of Eagle Scout and was a member of the "Order of the Arrow". After graduating from High School in 1945, Bill attended Clemson University on a football scholarship. Multiple injuries cut short his football career, and in 1946 he accepted an appointment to the Naval Academy and graduated with the class of 1950. After graduation Bill reported to the USS Saipan, CVL-48. He spent a year in Saipan before receiving orders to Flight Training at Pensacola, Florida. After training he reported to Fighter Squadron 173, the renowned "Jesters", based in Jacksonville, Fl. The "Jesters" were one of the first Navy squadrons to receive swept winged jets, the Grumman Cougar. After an 8-month West-Pac deployment, the "Jesters" returned to Jacksonville where they were the first squadron to receive the North American FJ-3 Fury. Bill participated in the Fleet Indoctrination program conducted at Patuxant River Maryland. It was after this tour at Pax River that Bill met and married his lifetime mate, the lovely, Yvonne Wilson. Subsequent tours included flight and ground instructor in the training command, transition to helicopters and a tour with HS-1 in Key West, Florida. This was followed by a tour as Aide & Flag Secretary to Commander Carrier Division 14 based in USS Wasp operating out of Boston, Mass. Then came tours in Monterey, California, Key West, Florida, Keflavik, Iceland and finally Atlanta, Georgia. In 1974 Bill retired from the Navy after serving as Executive Officer of the ROTC Unit at Georgia Tech for 4 years. After retirement Bill worked in real estate and with Douglas Guardian Warehouse Corporation. He retired from the latter in 1988 after serving as Vice President & Eastern Regional Director. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Yvonne Wilson Wright of Jacksonville, Florida, son Robert (Charlotte) Wright; daughter, Rosalind (Len) Picard; grandsons, Michael, Christopher, and Luc Picard. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to: The USNA Class of 1950 Historical Exhibit Program, attention: CAPT Richard Powell, USN (Ret), 6123 Dunsinane Court, McLean, VA 22102-2719. Celebration of life services will be held on Thursday at 11:30 AM at H.M. Patterson & Son Oglethorpe Hill.