Robert A. Wright

LTC (Ret) Robert A. Wright III (Bob) passed away from pancreatic cancer in the early morning hours of Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at Rollins Brook Community Hospital, in Lampasas, Texas. Bob was born on 4 April 1944 at Fort Meade, Maryland to COL Robert and Viva Mae (Cox) Wright Jr. As a child, Bob lived at Fort Knox, Kentucky; Austin, Texas; Fort Ord, California; Occupied Germany; France; Occupied Japan; Fort Sheridan, Illinois and Lampasas, Texas. Bob graduated from Lampasas High School as a member of the class of 1962. He attended the Agriculture and Mechanical College of Texas (Texas A&M University) where he was a member of the class of 1966 and Company D-1 in the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets. He graduated with a Bachelors of Science Degree. On August 28, 1966 he married Carol Northington also of Lampasas. Following graduation from Texas A&M, Bob was commissioned in the United States Army Military Police Corps as a Second Lieutenant. His first assignment was with the Defense Atomic Support Agency at Killeen Base Texas. He served a combat tour in Vietnam in 1969; was assigned as the Provost Marshall at Pueblo Army Depot, Colorado; the Military Police School at Fort Gordon, Georgia and Fort McClellan Alabama; Deputy Provost Marshall, 8th Infantry Division, Germany; United States Army Europe, Heidelberg, Germany; U. S. Army Recruiting Command, New Cumberland Army Depot, Pennsylvania; and Criminal Investigation Command, Fort Polk Louisiana. His final military assignment was as the Commander of the United States Army Criminal Investigation District Headquarters at Fort Riley, Kansas. His awards included the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Accommodation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with 4 campaign stars, the Armed Forces Reserves Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. The family returned to Texas where Bob taught high school economics for 15 years at Copperas Cove High School. On his retirement from teaching he became a “full-time” rancher managing his ranch in Lampasas as well as family farms and ranches in Limestone County. Bob served on the Saratoga Water District Board, Lampasas Appraisal District Board, the Lampasas Chamber of Commerce Board, and the Lampasas County Museum Board. Bob was currently serving as an Elder for the First Presbyterian Church, a member of the Kiwanis Club, the Lampasas Retired Teachers Association and the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Association. For many years he served as the Adjutant of the American Legion Post 277. For over 20 years, Bob coordinated the placement of American flags on Veterans graves at the Oak Hill Cemetery on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. He was also member of the Sons of the Republic of Texas. Bob was a member of the Spring Ho Committee from 2000-2003 and then he and Carol were recognized as the Grand Marshals of the 2014 Spring Ho Parade. Bob is survived by Carol, his wife of 49 years, his daughter Cindy Kemper and her husband Lyle and their two children, Jackson and Caroline of Cypress Texas, his son COL Rob Wright and his wife Myra and their two children, Kyle and Madalyn currently stationed in Washington DC. They will have great lasting memories of their husband, Dad, GeeGaw, Granddad, Grandaddy. Rindle Wilson, Larry Wilson, Jamie Briggs, David Brooks, David Millican, and Mike Fox honored Bob as pallbearers. Memorials may be made to the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Association or the National Rifle Association Foundation. Burial at 9 am Saturday Jan 9, 2016 at Oak Hill Cemetery. Memorial service at 10:30 am Saturday Jan 9, 2016 at First Presbyterian Church in Lampasas.