William H. Wright

William H. Wright (Bill) passed away February 2, 2011 at his home, surrounded by his children. Bill had lived in Topeka, Ks most of his 86 years, dedicating his professional career as a civil engineer with the Kansas Department of Transportation. (KDOT)

Bill, born March 3, 1924, grew up in Kansas City, Ks, attending Roosevelt Elementary and then Wyandotte High School, where he participated in every sport that he could in order to be able to take advantage of indoor plumbing, an amenity his home was lacking. He excelled in sports, lettering in football and was on the state championship team. Growing up in the depression, and the only child of Harry and Georgie Wright, Bill never believed that he would have the opportunity to attend college. While working at Hallmark after high school, playing baseball for their company team, he was approached by a coach who encouraged him to apply for a scholarship to play football and baseball at Baker University in Baldwin Ks. He was awarded that scholarship and his life took off in a way he never dreamed was possible. He began his freshman year at Baker in 1942 playing center, No. 27 on the Baker Wildcat football team, which he was always proud to report won the league championship.

Like many young men at that time, his college days were interpreted in 1943 when he was drafted and joined the United States Marine Corp, where he attained the rank of Sergeant, and shot "expert" on the range, humbly giving all credit to the M-1 rifle.


At the end of the war, he returned again to Baker, where he met and later married, Diane "Daisy" Houston, the football homecoming queen. Thanks to the GI bill, he finished his engineering degree at Kansas State, quickly hired by the Kansas department of transportation (KDOT), with his first assignment being on the survey crew for the Blue Rapids bridge, the longest span in the state. His next assignment was in Seneca Ks where he served as the resident engineer for 10 years and where he also coached Pony league baseball and was president of the Lions Club.

Moving to 1620 Boswell in Topeka, Ks., Bill and Daisy continuing raising their four children: Greg, Jamie, Chris, and Nola. Bill stayed with KDOT, moving up through each department; material, construction and maintenance, until he was finally appointed Chief Transportation Civil Engineer for the State of Kansas and maintained that leadership role under both political parties reign. He was pleased to see the final link of I-435 completed and dedicated in November 1986 before he retired in 1987.


For the remainder of his life, he was tireless in his unheralded community service, his financial support of his church, community theater, and many social charities. An avid reader and believer in great classic literature, he was always a great source of knowledge and inspiration. He and Daisy were devoted Sherlockians, members of the Great Alkali Plainsmen and often traveled to Great Britain to explore the British Museum, to enjoy pub atmosphere and libation. A modest man who rarely, if ever, spoke of his own accomplishments, his actions matched his words, he taught by example, and had the respect of many. Bill Wright exemplified in thought, word and deed, the very attributes admired by Tom Brokaw, when he coined the phrase they were" The Greatest Generation society has ever produced."


Predeceased by his wife Daisy in 2010, and his son, Chris in 2007 he is survived by sons Greg Wright of Tyler, Tx, and Jamie Wright of Topeka, Ks and daughter Nola Wright of Evansville, In. In lieu of flowers, Bill would have appreciated contributions to the Diane E. Wright Memorial Scholarship, Educational Credit Union, Topeka, Ks. Visitation with the family and remembrances of Bill will be shared at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, 10th and Lane, Topeka, Ks on Saturday, February 5, 2011 from 5:00-7:00 p.m.