Lorenzo Wright
Encyclopedia
Lorenzo Christopher Wright (9 December 1926 – 27 March 1972) was a Detroit native and star athlete at Miller High School and Wayne State University
; Wright is renowned for his noteworthy accomplishments in the sport of track and field
.
winning 4×100 meter relay team at the 1948 Olympic Games
. During those same London
Games, Wright finished fourth in a fiercely contested long jump
competition. Willie Steele
of the U.S. won the gold medal
at 25 in 8 in (7.82 m); Australia
's Theo Bruce
came in second, taking the silver medal
at 24 foot. Herb Douglas
of the United States captured the bronze medal
with a jump of 24 in 9 in (7.54 m), and Lorenzo Wright ended up in fourth place at 24 foot a hand's width from a second trip to the medals podium.
At Miller High, Wright was a two-time Detroit Public School League champion in the long jump
. Upon graduating from high school, LC Wright served eighteen months in the U.S. Army. Then, as a student-athlete for Wayne State University, Wright was an NCAA All-American in 1947 and 1948; placing second and third respectively in the long jump. Lorenzo Wright was a Central Collegiate Conference indoor champion in the 60-yard dash; he was also the inaugural Mid-American Conference
titlist in the 100 and 220-yard dash, 220-yard low hurdles, and the long jump. During his career, Wright won two individual and two relay squad titles at the prestigious Penn Relays
. Wright also won the long jump event at the 1948 and 1952 National AAU
Championships.
Wright's indoor and outdoor long jump marks, along with his times in the 100-meter and 220-yard dash, are still Wayne State University varsity records having stood the test of time for over sixty years.
and Southwestern High School; during the 1960s, Wright's athletes were some of the best in the United States. Wright was later appointed Director of the Detroit Public Secondary Schools Athletic League (DPSSAL). In 1972, at the age of 45, Lorenzo C. Wright was killed during a domestic dispute. Wright was honored posthumously as a 1973 inductee to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
and -in 1976- as a charter member of the Wayne State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
One of Detroit's major interscholastic athletic facilities, adjacent to Martin Luther King High School
, is named Lorenzo C. Wright Field.
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
; Wright is renowned for his noteworthy accomplishments in the sport of track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
.
World-Class Athlete
Lorenzo C. Wright's crowning athletic achievement would come as a member of the gold medalGold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
winning 4×100 meter relay team at the 1948 Olympic Games
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
. During those same London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Games, Wright finished fourth in a fiercely contested long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
competition. Willie Steele
Willie Steele
William Samuel "Willie" Steele was an American athlete who competed mainly in the long jump. Steele competed for San Jose State College, coached by Bud Winter in the early 1940's before enlisting to fight in World War II.He competed for the United States in the 1948 Summer Olympics held in...
of the U.S. won the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
at 25 in 8 in (7.82 m); Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's Theo Bruce
Theo Bruce
Theo Bruce was an Australian athlete who mainly competed in the men's long jump. He represented Australia at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, where he won the silver medal in his specialty.Competition in the long jump was particularly keen at the London Games. Willie Steele of the U.S...
came in second, taking the silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
at 24 foot. Herb Douglas
Herb Douglas
Herb Douglas was an American athlete who competed mainly in the long jump. He represented the U.S. in that event at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, where he won the bronze medal....
of the United States captured the bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
with a jump of 24 in 9 in (7.54 m), and Lorenzo Wright ended up in fourth place at 24 foot a hand's width from a second trip to the medals podium.
At Miller High, Wright was a two-time Detroit Public School League champion in the long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
. Upon graduating from high school, LC Wright served eighteen months in the U.S. Army. Then, as a student-athlete for Wayne State University, Wright was an NCAA All-American in 1947 and 1948; placing second and third respectively in the long jump. Lorenzo Wright was a Central Collegiate Conference indoor champion in the 60-yard dash; he was also the inaugural Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
titlist in the 100 and 220-yard dash, 220-yard low hurdles, and the long jump. During his career, Wright won two individual and two relay squad titles at the prestigious Penn Relays
Penn Relays
The Penn Relays is the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States, hosted annually since April 21, 1895 by the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
. Wright also won the long jump event at the 1948 and 1952 National AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
Championships.
Wright's indoor and outdoor long jump marks, along with his times in the 100-meter and 220-yard dash, are still Wayne State University varsity records having stood the test of time for over sixty years.
Dedicated Coach and Administrator
Following his athletic career, L.C. Wright served many seasons as the track and swimming coach at Miller, EasternMartin Luther King High School (Michigan)
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. High School is located at 3200 East Lafayette Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan; the building is operated by the Detroit Board of Education. King's district encompasses Downtown and Midtown Detroit; it also includes the Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects, the Martin Luther...
and Southwestern High School; during the 1960s, Wright's athletes were some of the best in the United States. Wright was later appointed Director of the Detroit Public Secondary Schools Athletic League (DPSSAL). In 1972, at the age of 45, Lorenzo C. Wright was killed during a domestic dispute. Wright was honored posthumously as a 1973 inductee to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame to honor Michigan sports people. It was organized in 1954 by Michigan Lieutenant Governor Philip Hart, Michigan State University athletic director Biggie Munn, president of the Greater Michigan Foundation Donald Weeks, general manager of the...
and -in 1976- as a charter member of the Wayne State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
One of Detroit's major interscholastic athletic facilities, adjacent to Martin Luther King High School
Martin Luther King High School (Michigan)
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. High School is located at 3200 East Lafayette Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan; the building is operated by the Detroit Board of Education. King's district encompasses Downtown and Midtown Detroit; it also includes the Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects, the Martin Luther...
, is named Lorenzo C. Wright Field.
Resources
- 1948 Summer OlympicsAthletics at the 1948 Summer OlympicsAt the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, 33 athletics events were contested, 24 for men and 9 for women. Three events made their Olympic debut at these Games: women's 200 metres, women's long jump and women's shot put...
- Wayne State University