Graham Patton Wright

Graham Patton Wright age 95, passed away peacefully at home with family members on Friday, March 11, 2011. Graham was born on August 16, 1915 on a large, picturesque farm along the banks of the Little Harpeth River, Arrington, Montgomery County, Tennessee outside Nashville. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Tennessee (1938) and a M.A. degree from Vanderbilt University (1939). During WWII (1941 to 1945), Graham proudly served our nation during five invasions as a U.S. Army Air Corp Flight Chief. His service included two invasions in North Africa, Salerno and Anzio, Sicily, and in southern France. At the end of WWII, he was flown to England aboard a C-47 that crash landed with no one injured. Graham returned stateside from England aboard the Europa, the largest German passenger ship captured during WWII. Once out to sea, the ship began listing and was endanger of capsizing while crossing the Atlantic to New York City. He stated that he was never so happy to see the Statue of Liberty as when he arrived in NYC to a hero's welcome with fireboats shooting sprays of water. As a young boy, Graham was active in the 4-H program raising chickens and the Boy Scouts Venturing program canoeing the Cumberland River. In 1945, he became the first, full-time Assistant County Agent with 4-H and Youth Development in Obion County, Tennessee. He also worked at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock (1949-1954) and was Program Leader at Purdue University Extension Center in Indianapolis, Indiana (1954). In December 1954, Graham Wright joined the University of Arizona faculty as State 4-H Leader. During his 18 year Arizona career, Wright was instrumental in establishing and developing the Arizona 4-H Youth Foundation (1970) as one of the earliest 4-H Foundations in the nation. From these efforts and those following, the Arizona 4-H Youth Foundation grew during its 40 years history, to currently serving over 142,000 4-H youth. Presently, Graham's son, Doug is the Vice President of the Arizona 4-H Youth Foundation. Graham introduced the 4-H program to a majority of the 21 federally recognized Arizona Native American tribes. He also implemented statewide 4-H Club Junior Leadership Training programs before retiring in June 1972 with 30 years of civil service. The legacy of Graham Wright's 4-H professional career was honored on October 8, 2010, in Silver Spring, Maryland, when he was inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame. Graham was from the Greatest Generation living a long, simple, fun-filled life devoted to his family and mentoring youth to let their own greatness shine. Graham is survived by his loving wife, Marilyn, with 64 years of marriage; by son, Douglas; daughter, Dr. Emily Vance, of Tucson and two grandchildren, Jason (Tucson) and Jessica (LaJolla) Vance along with his youngest surviving sister, Margaret "Putt" (Thomas R.) Cummings, (Nashville) and is predeceased by his sister, Mary Wright Lyle and parents, Suzie Mae and Graham C. Wright (of Nashville) and the recent October passing of his oldest sister, Susan M. Schoonvel and her surviving spouse, Col. John Schoonvel (Ret. U.S. Air Force of Greenville, NC). Graham loved the 4-H program and the belief that our nation's great strength is deeply rooted in the ethics of our forefathers. Graham lived the 4-H Pledge every day: " I Pledge my Head to clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service, and my Health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world." The family requests all remembrances or donations be offered in the care of the Arizona 4-H Youth Foundation, 325 Forbes Blvd, The University of Arizona, P. O. Box 210036, Tucson, AZ. 85716-0036 or use the online link. http://ag.arizona.edu/4-h_foundation/2008-%20support%204-h.htm The family wishes to thank the medical and nursing personnel at Northwest Hospital, the Veterans Administration Hospital, Odyssey Hospice, and Amber Lights Assisted Living Community; Pastor Lujet McCullough, Dr. Leland Scott, Rev. Glen Murray and the worship community at First United Methodist Church for all their wonderful care and concern. Arrangements handled by ADAIR FUNERAL HOME, AVALON CHAPEL, 8090 N. Northern Ave. (at Magee).