LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of James W. Wright, a promi-
nent reporter, distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, James "Jim" W. Wright of Norwich, New York died at the age of
71; and
WHEREAS, Born in March of 1938, in Sayre, Pennsylvania, James W.
Wright lived in Hornell until moving to Owego in the mid-1940s; he
attended Owego Free Academy and was a member of the graduating class of
1956; and
WHEREAS, While attending school, James W. Wright served as a full-time
sports reporter for the OWEGO TIMES and GAZETTE; upon graduation, he
attended Temple University and wrote sports for the TEMPLE OWL; he left
school to become the sports editor of the then ENDICOTT DAILY BULLETIN;
and
WHEREAS, Shortly after becoming the Tioga County Bureau Chief for the
ENDICOTT DAILY BULLETIN, James W. Wright was greeted by the now infamous
Appalachian Gangland Convention at the Joseph Barbara estate; in addi-
tion, he worked as a disc jockey, news director, and play-by-play sports
commentator for WEBO in Owego; and
WHEREAS, After working as an interim Tioga County Bureau Chief for the
BINGHAMTON PRESS, James W. Wright left Owego to become the Chenango
County Bureau Chief, headquartered in Norwich, on July 11, 1966; and
WHEREAS, James W. Wright covered all aspects of news including courts
in Chenango and Delaware counties and parts of Madison and Cortland
counties until the early 2000s when the bureau was closed; at that time,
he was shifted to the main office in Broome County to cover police and
fire beats and serve as a secondary courts reporter; he even covered
scores of murder trials; and
WHEREAS, In November of 1995, James W. Wright received the PRESS &
SUN-BULLETIN Employee of the Month Award for his years of dedication and
service; on May 2, 2008, he was the recipient of the Liberty Bell Award
from the Chenango County Bar Association for his contributions to
reporting in the courts; subsequently, that day was declared "Jim Wright
Day" in his community in honor of his distinguished services; and
WHEREAS, James W. Wright loved being a reporter, showing up every day
for work for more than four decades; he served the public through jour-
nalism, making an important contribution to his community; he knew how
to handle the lighter stories with charm and the tragic ones with sensi-
tivity; and
WHEREAS, James W. Wright's commitment to excellence, and his spirit of
humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, including charita-
ble and civic endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Along with his reporting, James W. Wright was an avid volun-
teer in the fire service, both in Chenango and Tioga counties and state-
wide; he served as the Norwich Fire Department's treasurer, secretary,
and vice president, and was a volunteer firefighter for more than 53
years, many of those serving with the George Rider Hook and Ladder
Company of the Norwich Fire Department; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, James W. Wright was a Chenango County Deputy
Fire Coordinator from 1976 until his retirement from that position in
2006; he was the secretary of the Chenango County Fire Chiefs Associ-
ation at its inception, and served as secretary of the Chenango County

Fireman's Association for 10 years; in 2003, he was named Norwich Fire-
fighter of the Year; and
WHEREAS, James W. Wright was also presented with the Chenango County
Fire Coordinators' coveted Howard Bartlett Award in 1998 for his merito-
rious service to the fire service; he had served as secretary to the New
York State Fire Safety Educators' Association; he was also on the New
York State Fire Chiefs' Public Education Committee, serving several
years as chairman; and
WHEREAS, At the time of his death, James W. Wright was in his second
five year term representing the Central New York Firemen's Association
as trustee at the Firemen's Home in Hudson, and was serving a two year
term as president of the Board of Trustees; and
WHEREAS, Predeceased by his parents, James Lowell Wright and Katherine
Greene Wright, James W. Wright is survived by his wife of 39 years,
Janice Kenyon Wright; four daughters, Nicki Conroy, Beth Lynne Wright,
Wendy Sue Wright, and Jamie Lynn (Gary) Moore; nine grandchildren,
Edwin, Andrew, Elise, Susan, Benjamin, and Daniel Conroy, Logan and Noah
Bufalini, and Dustin Moore; and his sister, Kathryn Vona; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit, imbued with a sense of
compassion, and comforted by a loving family, James W. Wright leaves
behind a legacy which will long endure the passage of time and will
remain as a comforting memory to all he served and befriended; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of James W. Wright, a prominent reporter, distinguished
citizen and devoted member of his community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of James W. Wright.