Contact: Anthony de Bruyn, (512) 499-4363

Date: September 1, 2004

UT System News Release

Lewis Wright Retires from UT System after Years of Distinguished Service

AUSTIN – In his more than two decades in higher education, Lewis Wright had the opportunity to view first-hand the transforming experience and vital role that education has played in the lives of countless students and families.

As an executive officer of The University of Texas System – the largest higher education system in the state and one of the largest in the nation – Wright brought a different perspective on the role of education than many in a leadership position as an administrator. When he graduated from high school in 1950, he could not attend UT Austin. The university was still segregated, and black students were not welcome. It was a different time and a different experience for him than prospective students applying to UT today.

Fifty-four years after Wright graduated from high school and attended another university, the world has changed. Not quickly or easily or completely – but there has been measurable progress.

"During the course of my service with the university, I have seen students transformed by the college experience from anxious freshmen to poised, confident, and sophisticated graduates prepared to face the challenges of the American and world societies," Wright says. "The transformation is profound – enabling, empowering, and acquiring knowledge of how the world works. It has been a special and challenging opportunity to serve, albeit in a minor role in the grand scheme of things, in an institution charged to educate, at the highest level, all persons who enter its doors."

On August 31, Lewis Wright retired from the UT System as associate vice chancellor for business affairs. As the System's first African-American executive officer, he has spent the past 22 years, 11 of them at UT System Administration, working to ensure that, in its operations, the university offers equal educational, employment, and business opportunities.

While he worked with the UT System, the proportion of minority- and female-owned businesses' participation with the UT System and its 15 institutions has almost tripled. Also known as HUBs – or historically underutilized businesses – these firms now comprise 14.7 percent ($246.2M in FY 2003) of the total goods and services purchased by the entire UT System. "It is satisfying to see these results," Wright says. "The program has been very successful and has grown steadily over the years. I credit the hard work of the leadership and staffs of the participating institutions, as well as the System Administration for this outcome."

"Lewis has been a stalwart for many years at the UT System and UT Austin," says Mark G. Yudof, chancellor of the UT System. "He is the guiding force behind our highly successful HUB program, administering and shaping the program. He is a gracious and kind man, widely admired by all."

"Over the past 12 years, I've had the opportunity to get to know Lewis Wright. I've shared with him my vision about what Historically Underrepresented Business (HUB) programs should be in this state and my vision for higher education, particularly concerning programs to make quality higher education accessible and affordable for all Texans," says State Senator Royce West, D-Dallas. "He has given sage advice and counsel concerning the design and implementation of HUB and higher-education programs at UT System and across the state. His calm and steady hand will be missed. As he retires, he does so with my respect and admiration."

"Lewis participated in all the major decisions made at the UT System while I was chancellor," says former chancellor William H. Cunningham, who originally hired Wright. "He was a very effective communicator with members of the legislature – very good at establishing relationships and working with legislators. I've been privileged to know and work with him for almost 20 years."

Before assuming his current position at the UT System, Wright worked for a decade at UT Austin in various positions, including associate vice president for administration. He began his career in higher education in 1982, after he retired as a colonel from the U.S. Army after almost three decades in the military. Wright served in Korea and Germany as an aviator and an artillery officer, as well as in Vietnam as a platoon leader, operations officer, and commanding officer in assault and assault-support helicopter companies. Also, he commanded the assault helicopter battalion of the 101st Airborne Division and served on the Army staff in the Pentagon. While in the military, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Purple Heart.

Wright holds a bachelor's degree in military science from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, a master's of science degree in accounting from Old Dominion University, and an MBA from American University.

Although Wright, 71, could not attend UT Austin, two of his children are alumni of the university and a grandchild, one of 14, has entered UT Austin this fall. "Through belief in the principles of the Declaration of Independence and struggle to make them fully applicable to people of color, notable progress has been made in all aspects of the equal opportunity arena," Wright observed. "That progress is attributable to many men and women of good will, dedicated to the task, both in the university and in the community."