Hugh Wright

1931 - 2016

Hugh M. Wright

Battle Creek

Hugh M. Wright, 84, of Battle Creek, longtime banker and community leader, died Friday May 7, 2016 at Bronson at Home Hospice Residence.

He was born October 4, 1931 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada to Charles and Evelyn G. (MacLeod) Wright, came to the United States in 1937 and naturalized as a U.S. Citizen on May 7, 1963.

Hugh grew up in Battle Creek becoming an Eagle Scout in 1945 and graduating from Lakeview High School in 1949 where he played football and golf.  He was co-captain of the 1948 football team and made first team all-conference.  As a golfer he was conference champion in 1948 and 1949.

He earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Michigan where he initially played football and later golf from 1951-1953.  The golf team became Big Ten Champions in 1952 and runner-up in the NCAA final.  He captained the Wolverine Golf team in 1953.  Hugh married his high school sweetheart Sally Hoffhines on September 6, 1952 in Battle Creek

Hugh graduated from Michigan in 1953 with a degree in Economics and remained a loyal Michigan Man, avid fan his entire life, and lifetime Victors Club member.

Following college he began his banking career as an intern with Michigan National Bank in Battle Creek beginning as a check filing clerk and later teller, safe deposit box manager and supervisor.  Hugh held every position in the bank, retiring in 1994 as Battle Creek City President and a Senior Vice President of Michigan National Corporation, then based in Bloomfield Hills.   He was also past-chairman of the American Bankers Association, Credit Card Division and helped pioneer national electronic credit card processing and served as an advisor to VISA USA.

Hugh had an unwavering commitment to high customer service values to his clients and community and helped many local businesses get started when other lenders wouldn't.  He truly loved his entire staff and treated them as extended family.

Beyond banking, Hugh served as Chairman of the Cereal City Development Corporation and on the Executive Board of Battle Creek Unlimited and was active in United Way.  He is a past President of the Battle Creek Host Lions Club and member of  the Knife & Fork Club.  He was a longtime member and past President of the Battle Creek Country Club where he was five-time club golf champion.        

During later years Hugh and Sally wintered in Sarasota, Florida and became members of Harvest United Methodist Church and Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Battle Creek.

Hugh is survived by his wife of 64 years Sally Hoffhines.  Also surviving are daughters, Kathy (Gary) Moore of Durham, North Carolina and Julie (Jim) Weintraub of Ann Arbor; sons, Doug (Charlotte) Wright of Bradenton, Florida and John A. Wright of Battle Creek; grandchildren Natalie Wright and Tom Wright, and Jeffrey and Jenna Weintraub; sister, Diane (Jerry) Moore of Syracuse, Indiana and Naples, Florida and several nieces and nephews.

Family will receive friends from 3-6 PM Monday May 16, 2016 at Kempf Family Funeral Home, Shaw Chapel, 2838 SW Capital Ave., Battle Creek.  Private Service and interment in Memorial Park Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to the Battle Creek Community Foundation's Fund for Battle Creek or its Chapel Hill UMC Memorial Fund. Assistance with memorials is available at the Kempf Funeral Home, Shaw Chapel.

Please leave the family a personal message and sign the online guest book at www.kempffuneralhome.com.