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Timeline of Jim Wright's life and career
- Born Dec. 22, 1922 in Fort Worth, Texas
- Graduated Adamson High School, Dallas 1939
- Attended Weatherford College, 1939-1940
- Attended University of Texas, 1940-1941
- Enlisted in Army Air Force 1941, Box 1214
- Married Mary “Mab” Lemon, 1942. Had five children with her.
- Elected to Texas House of Representatives 1947-1949
- Mayor of Weatherford 1950-1954
- Elected to U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 3, 1955. Served until June 30, 1989.
- Ran for United States Senate in the Special Election of 1961, placing 4th in a field of 70 candidates in the election that eventually was won by John Tower (R).
- Was with JFK in Fort Worth on day of his death, November 22, 1963 and in the motorcade in Dallas when he was killed.
- Authored The Coming Water Famine, 1966.
- Signed Nixon peace treaty, 1968. Photo in Box 1217
- Married Betty Hays in 1972.
- House Majority Leader from 1976 to1986
- Authored book Reflections of a Public Man, 1984.
- Speaker of the House 1987-1989, photo in 1217
- He had a column in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for 10 years.
- Democratic National Convention chair 1988, photo in Box 1220 (oversize)
- Delivers a television address to the Russian people while leading a congressional delegation to the Soviet Union, 1987. Photos in oversize Box 1220. Accession 2017, Box 42 (letters & lapel pins)
- Resigned as Speaker June 30, 1989 photo in Box 1218
- Texas Christian University received papers and artifacts spanning his career, 1989, Box 1218; Accession 2019, Box 4
- Speaker of the House 1987-1989, photo in Box 1218
- Authored book “Worth it All” 1993
- Authored book Balance of Power: Presidents and Congress from the era of McCarthy to the Age of Gingrich, 1996.
- Authored book The Flying Circus: Pacific War-1943” 2005
- From 2001-2015 he hosted the annual Jim Wright Symposium, held at Texas Christian University., Photo in Accession 2015, Box 4
- Taught at Texas Christian University 1990-2009 “Congress and the Presidents.”
- Received the High Impact Legacy Award at the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce for the 50th Anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s last visit to the city, 2013
- Received the “Golden Deeds” award from the National Exchange Club in 2014.
- Died May 6, 2015 in Fort Worth.
- Mr. Wright’s family donates seven handwritten journals, spanning 1971-1991 (not inclusive) from his family in 2016 to Texas Christian University’s Special Collections department.
- Permanent exhibit on 3rd floor of Special Collections, Mary Couts Burnett Library established after library renovations in 2016.
