IN MEMORIAM -- Lucien C. Wright

Lucien Wright, 5th MW Region Vice President, 1939

Lucien Clay "Bus" Wright was born on April 24, 1915 to the late Oliver Stapelton and Martha Ione Wright in Columbus, Ohio. At the time of his passing, he was the oldest living former Regional Vice President of Alpha of what was then known as the Western Region: now, the Midwest Region.

Lucien entered Ohio State University, at age 16, with a double major in music and history. (His parents, a noted bandmaster and society host, kept Black OSU students fed and cared for, as years ago; there were no places for them to stay on campus.) He would graduate in 1935, and later complete additional coursework in elementary education.

"Bus" as he was affectionally called by his many friends -- was initiated at Kappa Chapter, April 23, 1936. He would represent the Ohio District and the fraternity, as Alpha's Mid-Western Regional Vice President, in 1939.

Bro. Wright began teaching in the Columbus Public School System, beginning in 1935, even though was too young to vote. He was one of the first African-American school principals in the Columbus Public school system. He retired after 42 years of dedicated service, including Columbus’ Board of Education HR Director and its Desegregation Task Force. Bro. Wright would also serve in numerous community and professional projects as a volunteer board member and social activist.

With his music degree, Wright was sought after as the choirmaster with St. Philips Episcopal Church, Columbus. He loved liturgical music, and would serve in this role for over 15 years. It was there he met one of the choristers, Phyllis, who would later become his wife (who survives him). They would have four children, two boys, and two girls. One of his sons became an Alpha legacy -- Bro. Howard Addison, Omega Chapter.

Bro. Wright peacefully departed this life, on April 30, 2011, at the same local address he was born in 96 years ago. Members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Rho Lambda Chapter, offered tribute to this 75-year member, at his Omega Service, on Wednesday May 4, 2011. Interment is at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, Columbus.

Bro. LUCIEN CLAY WRIGHT
1915-2011