In Memory Of
Douglas Scott Wright
1948
2023
Douglas Scott Wright
November 10, 1948 — July 27, 2023
Douglas Scott Wright, 74, passed away Thursday July 27, 2023.
Life began for Doug on November 10th, 1948, born in Kansas City, MO to Charles W Wright and Alice Clare Brownfield Wright, later moving to Topeka to start Kindergarten at Southwest (Whitson) Elementary School, graduating from Topeka West High School in 1966.
Doug married Susan Kennedy Wright, his high school sweetheart in June 1971 and together they had two children who survive, Sara Wright of Denver, CO and Adam Wright (Lisa) of Prairie Village, KS.
After 35 years together, Susan preceded him in death in October 2006. In 2008, Doug met Anne Martin Bennett while they both were traveling to Greece with a Washburn University Student Trip. They have been together since, and she survives (of the home). They returned from Europe last summer and were planning a trip to France next year.
Family who also survive include Anne's children Craig Bennett (Sarah) and Liz Hawver (Zach). Susan's mother, Treva Kennedy Potter, her brothers and entire Kennedy-Potter family, along with Anne's extended Bennett-Craig family, all of whom welcomed and loved him as one of their own.
No doubt Doug's older brother, Charles W Wright III, who preceded him in death, was one of the first to greet him in heaven, along with his parents, fathers in law Dr. Haler Kennedy and Eliot Potter. His younger sister, Catherine Wright Meacham of Lecompton, KS survives along with several Wright family cousins, nieces and nephews.
In addition to being involved in his children's activities throughout their lives, Doug especially loved being a grandfather to Olivia Wright, Emilia Wright, Allison Wright and Atlas Hawver. He enjoyed spending as much time with each of them as he was able and was committed to being a doting grandpa to each. He played golf and swam each week and took pride in completing his annual tradition of swimming a mile on his birthday.
Growing up Doug was a bat boy for minor league baseball team, the Topeka Reds, and his life-long love for baseball was born. An avid fan of the Royals, in retirement he began researching and writing baseball history for players across the nation and had been invited to speak at different events about his baseball knowledge – which seemed endless. Watching the Royals win the World Series and attending some of the playoff run games with his children was a dream he never thought would come true. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, earning his Eagle award in high school and eventually being honored with the Silver Beaver award. He served as Scout Master for Troop 41 & Troop 7 and attended the National Jamboree, the International Jamboree - he was brave soul taking a group of 15-year-olds to Austria, Germany and the Netherlands.
He graduated from Washburn University in 1970 with a degree in history and earned a law degree from Washburn Law School. He later returned to earn a teaching certificate. While an undergraduate at Washburn, Wright was a member of the Kansas Beta chapter of Phi Delta Theta.
At 34 years old, Doug was elected Mayor of Topeka in 1983 and was considered an effective and aggressive force for the capital city. He welcomed Vanna White at the opening of West Ridge Mall, Sam Walton at the opening of Hypermart, and ran the Olympic Torch through Topeka on its way to Los Angeles in 1985. Under his leadership, Topeka welcomed the Performing Arts Center, Heartland Park Racetrack and the Kansas Expo Center.
He was the first person chosen for a team in the annual Kennedy-Potter Trivial Pursuit Christmas Eve challenge, his nieces and nephews all knowing that if he was on their team, they were sure to win.
After practicing Law in Topeka for over 30 years, he earned a teaching certificate and was excited to complete his student teaching at Highland Park High School. When the Kansas Board of Education declined to approve him for his own classroom, he joined the Topeka Metro Transit Authority as a bus driver, where he quickly became a leader in the Amalgated Transit Union, 1360, finding reward in helping his team to negotiate for better benefits, schedules and pay.
He never had a friend or met a stranger that he wouldn't help. His story is one of love, commitment to his family, service to his community and an unimaginable amount of perseverance. We will forever be honored and humbled that we got to call him ours.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, August 10, 2023 at First Congregational Church. His family will greet relatives and friends one hour prior to the service. A private inurnment will take place at Mount Hope Cemetery. In his honor, memorial contributions may be made to Washburn University Foundation 1729 SW MacVicar Ave, Topeka, KS 66604.
To leave a message for his family, please click the "Share Memories"
button above.
Life began for Doug on November 10th, 1948, born in Kansas City, MO to Charles W Wright and Alice Clare Brownfield Wright, later moving to Topeka to start Kindergarten at Southwest (Whitson) Elementary School, graduating from Topeka West High School in 1966.
Doug married Susan Kennedy Wright, his high school sweetheart in June 1971 and together they had two children who survive, Sara Wright of Denver, CO and Adam Wright (Lisa) of Prairie Village, KS.
After 35 years together, Susan preceded him in death in October 2006. In 2008, Doug met Anne Martin Bennett while they both were traveling to Greece with a Washburn University Student Trip. They have been together since, and she survives (of the home). They returned from Europe last summer and were planning a trip to France next year.
Family who also survive include Anne's children Craig Bennett (Sarah) and Liz Hawver (Zach). Susan's mother, Treva Kennedy Potter, her brothers and entire Kennedy-Potter family, along with Anne's extended Bennett-Craig family, all of whom welcomed and loved him as one of their own.
No doubt Doug's older brother, Charles W Wright III, who preceded him in death, was one of the first to greet him in heaven, along with his parents, fathers in law Dr. Haler Kennedy and Eliot Potter. His younger sister, Catherine Wright Meacham of Lecompton, KS survives along with several Wright family cousins, nieces and nephews.
In addition to being involved in his children's activities throughout their lives, Doug especially loved being a grandfather to Olivia Wright, Emilia Wright, Allison Wright and Atlas Hawver. He enjoyed spending as much time with each of them as he was able and was committed to being a doting grandpa to each. He played golf and swam each week and took pride in completing his annual tradition of swimming a mile on his birthday.
Growing up Doug was a bat boy for minor league baseball team, the Topeka Reds, and his life-long love for baseball was born. An avid fan of the Royals, in retirement he began researching and writing baseball history for players across the nation and had been invited to speak at different events about his baseball knowledge – which seemed endless. Watching the Royals win the World Series and attending some of the playoff run games with his children was a dream he never thought would come true. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, earning his Eagle award in high school and eventually being honored with the Silver Beaver award. He served as Scout Master for Troop 41 & Troop 7 and attended the National Jamboree, the International Jamboree - he was brave soul taking a group of 15-year-olds to Austria, Germany and the Netherlands.
He graduated from Washburn University in 1970 with a degree in history and earned a law degree from Washburn Law School. He later returned to earn a teaching certificate. While an undergraduate at Washburn, Wright was a member of the Kansas Beta chapter of Phi Delta Theta.
At 34 years old, Doug was elected Mayor of Topeka in 1983 and was considered an effective and aggressive force for the capital city. He welcomed Vanna White at the opening of West Ridge Mall, Sam Walton at the opening of Hypermart, and ran the Olympic Torch through Topeka on its way to Los Angeles in 1985. Under his leadership, Topeka welcomed the Performing Arts Center, Heartland Park Racetrack and the Kansas Expo Center.
He was the first person chosen for a team in the annual Kennedy-Potter Trivial Pursuit Christmas Eve challenge, his nieces and nephews all knowing that if he was on their team, they were sure to win.
After practicing Law in Topeka for over 30 years, he earned a teaching certificate and was excited to complete his student teaching at Highland Park High School. When the Kansas Board of Education declined to approve him for his own classroom, he joined the Topeka Metro Transit Authority as a bus driver, where he quickly became a leader in the Amalgated Transit Union, 1360, finding reward in helping his team to negotiate for better benefits, schedules and pay.
He never had a friend or met a stranger that he wouldn't help. His story is one of love, commitment to his family, service to his community and an unimaginable amount of perseverance. We will forever be honored and humbled that we got to call him ours.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, August 10, 2023 at First Congregational Church. His family will greet relatives and friends one hour prior to the service. A private inurnment will take place at Mount Hope Cemetery. In his honor, memorial contributions may be made to Washburn University Foundation 1729 SW MacVicar Ave, Topeka, KS 66604.
To leave a message for his family, please click the "Share Memories"
button above.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Douglas Scott Wright, please visit our flower store.
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