Joe Adams Wright

Graveside services will be at 11 o’clock Tuesday morning at the Sunset Memorial Mausoleum.

Mr. Wright was born to Marryatte Steele (M.S.) and Elizabeth Adams Wright, on February 13, 1916 in Staunton, Virginia. The Wright family moved to Nacogdoches, Texas in January of 1930 where Mr. M.S. Wright established Texas Farm Products Company, manufacturers of Lone Star Feeds and Fertilizers. After graduating from high school in 1933, Joe was employed by the family firm, the beginning of a lifetime vocation except for 38 months of service during World War II.

Joe entered the armed forces in 1942. After being accepted by the Naval Air Corps his first station as a cadet was in Athens, Georgia, a physical indoctrination facility. After three months in Athens, Joe was transferred to Millington, Tennessee, for flight training in aerobatics, flight formations, landings and take-offs. In January 1943, Joe was sent to Pensacola, Florida, where he received the remainder of his flight training. He was commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Air Corps on September 17, 1943, and his first assignment was as a flight instructor in Pensacola.

Joe and Helen Crawford were married in Center, Texas on December 27, 1944, while Joe was stationed in Pensacola. Helen joined him there after their marriage and was with him during the remainder of his service. From Pensacola, Joe was transferred to the Patuxent Naval Air Transport Base in Maryland. His assigned duty was to transport the mail on DC-3;s. The normal route was from Newfoundland to Florida – sometimes to Bermuda. Once Joe flew a mail route to France in a DC-4.

On April 12, 1945, Joe was flying over Warm Springs, Georgia, where President Roosevelt vacationed, when he heard the news on the radio that the President had died – in the Warm Springs cottage. Joe remembered few harrowing experiences, but one was particularly memorable. On a night mission out of Pensacola his flight number had not been called, and his flight was thought to be lost. However, there was a number mix-up and Joe and his crew arrived unharmed to a welcoming throng.

Joe accumulated 2,500 flight hours on various aircraft while in the service and was discharged from the Naval Air Corps in November of 1945 as a Lt. J.G., having served 38 months. Thereupon he returned to Nacogdoches and rejoined the family business. Joe remembered his years in the service as some of the happiest of his life.

In June of 1945, Joe and his brother, Tom, were named to the Board of the Directors of Texas Farm Products Company, while both were still in the service. Upon returning home, Joe became plant manager, with the title of Vice President, in charge of Production. In 1970, Joe was elected President of Texas Farm Products and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1983.

In addition to plant duties, Joe had a keen interest in real estate and was responsible for the formation of multiple land-holding partnerships for the Wright family. One well known development which Joe was instrumental in creating is the Colonial Hills subdivision.

Joe had many areas of interest. True to his rearing he was a life-long member of the Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the Board of Fredonia State Bank for many years. Joe was also an avid hunter and especially enjoyed quail hunting in South Texas.

Joe also was an enthusiastic member and held several offices in the Nacogdoches Horse Show Association during the years when the “Greatest Little Horse Show on Earth” put Nacogdoches on the map. He and his daughter, Jan were widely recognized in walking horse competitions in the 1960’s. Jan won seven world championships in Shelbyville, Tennessee and many State Fair championships. In addition, Joe’s horse, Triple Threat, was judged the World’ Champion Tennessee Walking Horse in 1965.

Another event that captured Joe’s interest was the Masters Golf Tournament. He attended this premier PGA event for 50 consecutive years beginning in 1957.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Helen Crawford Wright; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. M.S. Wright, Sr; a sister, Elizabeth Wright Rinker; and two brothers, M. Steele Wright, Jr. and Dick Wright.

He is survived by a daughter, Jan Wright Kingham, and her husband, Jim Kingham; two grandchildren, James Anthony (Jay) Kingham, Jr. and his wife Ashley; and Jill Elizabeth Kingham; one brother, Tom; nephews, Ray Rinker, Richard Wright, and M.S. (Bud) Wright, III; nieces, Kitty Wright Dippel, Peggy Wright Pollock, Malinda Wright, Mary Wright Cason, and Sandy Wright Smith; and a host of grand nephews and nieces.

Shirley Thorn, Vinnie Curtis, and La Keesha Curtis are valued family friends and Joe’s family is most grateful for their dedication to Joe’s care.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Presbyterian Church or to the charity of your choice.