Richard Lorenzo Wright

Richard Lorenzo Wright of Dayton, OH was born on July 27, 1940, in Chattanooga, TN, the fifth of six children born to the late Alonzo Sr. and Cleo (Bailey) Wright. Richard attended public schools in Chattanooga and graduated from Howard High School in 1959. He pursued higher education at Tennessee Agriculture & Industrial State College (now Tennessee State University), where he met the love of his life, Ms. Anita Showers, in the fall of 1962. He earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial design the following spring. Richard and Anita married on September 27, 1963, and remained faithfully married for nearly 61 years. Two beautiful children were borne of this union, daughter Nyra and son Ryan.

The young newlyweds migrated to Dayton, OH in the fall of 1963. Shortly after arriving in Dayton, Richard began his career with General Motors Corporation. Richard began his career as an hourly employee on the assembly line at GM before he was selected for a management leadership program. He advanced to become the first Black superintendent at the Delco Moraine plant. Richard served in several roles over the course of his career at GM, including roles in Quality Control and Assurance, Materials Management, Aftermarket Product Management, and Manufacturing. He retired from General Motors Corporation in January 1993 with 30 years of service.

After retirement from GM, Richard refocused his career and devoted much of his time to service in the community. Richard began working with non-profit and small, minority business development organizations. His extensive community involvement included serving as a past Jefferson Township Trustee, board member and president of the Montgomery County Regional Transit Authority, the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission, the City of Dayton Plan Board, City Wide Development Corp. Board and Executive Committee, Wright-Dunbar Business District Board, Member and Co-Chairman of the Southwest Priority Board, and Parity, Inc. Board and Steering Committee. He served as the Executive Director for the Montgomery County Community Action Agency, provided management services for Wright Technology Network and St. Mary Development Corporation. He retired as the Executive Director for Parity, Inc. in February 2020. In recognition of his service to the City of Dayton, then Mayor Nan Whaley and the Dayton City Council honored Richard with “Richard Wright Day” on August 24, 2021.

Of all his accomplishments and personal attributes, Richard cherished his strong Christian faith and commitment to service. He was a proud member of St. Paul AME Zion Church where he and his family attended for over 38 years. He has held many positions as a layman at St. Paul AME Zion Church including past Sunday school teacher & superintendent, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, as well as a member of the Budget/Finance committee and culinary arts committees. Richard also held a number of positions at the AME Zion Church Columbus/Cincinnati District and Ohio Conference levels including Chair of the Ohio Conference Finance Committee, past president of the Columbus/Cincinnati District Lay Council, Columbus Cincinnati District Treasurer, District Lay Council Treasurer.

Richard was also an active member of many civic organizations. He was a Spring 1963 initiate of the Alpha Theta chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. at Tennessee State University. He was active with the Dayton Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi for several years where he served as Polemarch, Vice Polemarch, and held several other offices within the chapter. He is a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and is affiliated with Sigma Boule where he has held the office of Sire Archon. Richard was also a 25-year member of the G-Men Social Club of Dayton where he served as Social Chairman for a number of years. In addition, he was also a member of the Tennessee State University Alumni Association where he held the office of President of the Dayton chapter and the Mid West Regional Vice President. He was also a member and served in leadership roles of the local Optimist International chapter that hosted the annual Jefferson Township Days. In his spare time after retirement, Richard was often on the golf course as a member of the Fairway Seekers Golf Club.

Richard departed this earth on July 29, 2024. He is preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Nyra Landrum (Dayton), siblings Alonzo Wright, Jr. (Cleveland, OH), Inetta Wright King and Bonnie Wright Montgomery (Chattanooga), and Carl Wright (Dayton, OH), parents Alonzo Sr. and Cleo Wright (Chattanooga, TN). Richard is survived by his loving wife, Anita, and devoted son, Ryan, Sr. (Tyra) of Dayton, OH, beloved grandsons Jaryn Landrum (Columbia, SC), Charles (Irvine, CA) and Ryan Wright, II (Anaheim Hills, CA), his dedicated brother Wilbert (Dayton), sisters-in-law Jacqueline Thomas Wright, Darlene Wright, and Tee Ella Showers, all of Dayton, a host of cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends with whom he developed strong bonds along the way.

Visitation 9 am – 10 am Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at Wayman Chapel AME Church, 3317 Hoover Avenue, Dayton, Ohio, at which time family will receive friends. Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity Omega Ritual 10 am- 10:30 am. Kappa Alph Psi Fraternity Memorial Service 10:30 am- 11:00 am.  Funeral service begins at 11 am. Interment Woodland Cemetery.

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