He began his broadcasting career at WKRG-TV in Mobile as a member of the stage crew in 1961 and was promoted to director prior to returning to the University of Alabama. In August of 1962 he joined WSFA-TV in Montgomery as a projectionist and was promoted to Promotion Manager before moving to Huntsville in 1974. That same month he joined WHNT-TV as Promotion Manager and retired from WHNT-TV on December 31, 1997 as Vice President and Operations Manager.
Dick says “My years of association with ABA have been most rewarding. The friends I have made will be around me forever. My wish for all who follow in this industry is that each one teaches at least one other person the value of being a broadcaster.” He joined the ABA in 1975, elected in 1988 as the 43rd President and in 1997 was honored with the “Lifetime Member” designation.
His service and recognitions in the industry included chairmanship of the BPA's (Broadcast Promotion Association) annual convention in Nashville with over 1300 attendees in 1976. He was also awarded the first Huntsville Ad Club “Silver Medal Award” in 1985 and received the “Silver Circle Award” from the Mid-South Chapter of the National Academy of TV Arts and Sciences in 1995.
Dick is married to Sandra Locke Wright and they a son Greg and a daughter Leigh, plus three grandchildren.
From our Archives Newsletter July 1988
"In 1985 Dick was named a vice president of the New York Times Broadcasting Services Alabama Division and Operations Manager of WHNT-TV.
The beautiful new facilities of WHNT-TV were completed after a two year renovation period. Dick Wright was in charge of the construction of the new facilities and the purchase of new state-of-the- art television equipment. Furthermore, we understand, he finished the entire job within budget and, in this day and time, that was a remarkable achievement.
Dick is currently chairman of the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army, a board member of the Broadway Theatre League and a member of the Monte Sano United Methodist Church. ABA's first lady, Sandra Wright, is an RN at the University of Alabama at Huntsville- Medical Clinics in the Pediatrics Unit."