Ron A. Wright

Ronald Wright

November 24, 1934 - April 11, 2026

Ronald "Ron" Wright was born into a hardworking family shaped by resilience, resourcefulness, and a strong sense of doing what was right, a principle reflected both in his name and in the way he lived. Raised on a small family farm in Emmett, Idaho, he was the son of Vernon and Meta Wright and grew up alongside his brothers, Lauren and Gene, and his sisters, Darlene and Helen.

Ron's childhood was shaped by the realities of the Depression era, when jobs were scarce and opportunities in the Emmett Valley were limited. Even so, the family farm helped sustain them through those difficult years. With its crops, animals, and large garden, the farm provided much of what the family needed and offered stability during an uncertain time.

After graduating from high school, Ron took on whatever work he could find, showing early on both a strong work ethic and a knack for learning new skills. He spent time at the Emmett mill, following in the footsteps of his father, Vernon, who had been the mill's first millwright, and worked sorting freshly cut lumber on the green chain. He also trimmed trees on local fruit ranches and worked with his brother Lauren at the railroad, where he learned to send telegraphs.

In 1954, he began his first full-time job at Hethrington Electric in Emmett. There, he sold GE appliances, supported electrical work for ranches and orchards, and gained skills that would serve him well for years to come. He proved to be a successful salesman by building trust, speaking slowly and methodically, and making sure people got exactly what they needed. It was an approach that reflected his character and the way he carried himself throughout his life. His success earned him trips to GE's largest factory in Kentucky, marking his first time traveling by plane.

After several years at Hethrington Electric, Ron decided to build a home for himself and his then-wife, Sherry, the mother of his children, Greg and Darla. He had no formal construction training, but that did not stop him. With a spirit that might well have said, "How hard could it be?" Ron set out to learn. With notebooks in hand, he began visiting new home construction sites, studying and writing down everything he could about wall spacing, window framing, and roof design. His mother, Meta, deeded him a portion of the family farm for a homesite, and Ron built the house himself. That first home became the start of his construction career. Over time, he built many dozens of homes in Emmett, Cascade, and across the Boise Valley.

In 1968, he moved his family to Boise, where he purchased The Skyline, a small 12-room motel on Federal Way. Running The Skyline became a family effort, with Greg and Darla each taking part in ways they would later recall with humor and fondness. Those years reflected the kind of life Ron built around him: industrious, practical, and shared.

During this same time, Ron worked at Boise Cascade Manufactured Homes as a quality control manager. Even while balancing those responsibilities, he continued building homes, both for his family and for the simple satisfaction of the work itself.

Family life remained central to Ron. When Greg and Darla were young, some of the best times were spent fishing, boating, and enjoying time at the cabins in Cascade. Those traditions carried into the next generation, and his grandchildren would later remember fishing, boating, and summer days at the cabins as part of life with Ron.

Ron's interest in real estate eventually led him to earn his real estate license. During his years in Boise, he connected with several realtors, including Jim Kling, a relationship that would influence the next chapter of his life. Ron moved his family back to Emmett, partnered with a local realtor, and helped build many homes, including one of the first new subdivisions in Emmett in decades. The venture was successful enough that he treated the entire sales staff to a weeklong trip to Hawaii, back in the days when $200 could get you there and halfway back.

Ron always had an eye for opportunity. That same entrepreneurial instinct led him into the nutritional business after Jim Kling introduced him to a product from Japan that seemed worth a closer look. In 1982, American Image Marketing, later known as The AIM Companies, was formed. Ron joined the Board of Directors in November 1982, was elected Executive Vice President in February 1983, and in 2003 became President and CEO of The AIM Companies. The early years brought growing pains, but Ron believed in the products and in the people behind the work. Over time, AIM expanded into several countries and continued helping thousands of people with their health and financial opportunity.

It was through AIM that Ron eventually met his second wife, Opal. In her, he found a true partner, someone who shared his generous spirit and deep commitment to caring for the people they loved. They were married on May 3, 1991, and together built a blended family grounded in love, generosity, and perseverance, qualities they passed on to all of us.

To those who knew him, Ron was an entrepreneur in the truest sense. He was always building, always learning, and always looking for the next practical opportunity. That spirit influenced many in his family and encouraged others to pursue ideas with persistence and conviction. He believed in hard work, in staying with something when it mattered, and in doing right by people.

He did not give in or give up, and even in his final days, he never wavered in his love for others and his commitment to being there for them.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Meta; his brothers, Lauren and Gene Wright; his sisters, Darlene DeHass and Helen Grider; and his wife, Opal.