This month’s Local Legend is Michael P. Wright. Mike was born in Enid and is an Enid High Graduate. As an all-around athlete he was a member of two state championship football teams, captain of the basketball team and an all-state baseball player. After graduating high school, Mike attended Oklahoma State University where he was a member, President and Treasurer of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. He graduated OSU with a degree in accounting and became a Certified Public Accountant. In 2002, he earned AAMS certification through the College of Financial Planning. In 2008, he was granted the use of Certified Financial Planner certification.
Upon his return to Enid, Mike has spent the last several decades leading and volunteering in so many capacities, it is impossible to list them all, but of note he served as President of the Northwest Chapter of the Oklahoma State Alumni Association and Oakwood Country Club. In addition, he has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce, R.S.V.P., Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Enid, and Autry Technology Center Educational Foundation. He has also served as a statewide director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He also served as Chairman of the Board of the Joint Industrial Foundation, Military Affairs Committee and Federal Government Committee of the Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce. He served as Chairman of the Board of the Denny Price Family YMCA during a $4 million campaign to build a new building for the YMCA. He has been an avid supporter of the Boy Scouts of America.
In 1995, he convinced the Enid City Council to start the Vance Development Authority on behalf of the City of Enid, Oklahoma to enhance relations between the City of Enid and Vance Air Force Base. The model was later used by several communities throughout the nation to better enhance their relations with their respective military installations. In addition, he served as co-chairman of the Save Vance Committee in connection with the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Process of the United States Government. In 1997, he was a founder and elected as the initial Chairman of the Board of the Enid Regional Development Alliance.
The late Governor Henry Bellmon appointed him in 1988 to serve as trustee of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement and Retirement Board, Governor David Walters appointed him in 1994 to serve as a member of the Oklahoma Military Advisory Commission and Senator Don Nickles appointed him in 1997 to be Treasurer of the Republican Majority Fund of the United States Senate.
But most importantly, Mike is the husband to Kelley and the father to daughter Meredith and Whitney, and soon to be grandfather.
Mike’s personal motto is “Generosity Leads to Prosperity” and you’d be hard pressed to find someone as generous with his time, talents, and treasure as Mike Wright. And for that, he is a true Local Legend.
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