[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 157 (Wednesday, October 17, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2170-E2171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO LANCELOT WRIGHT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 17, 2007

  Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a friend 
and an entrepreneur who has overcome adversity and achieved great 
success. Lancelot Devon Wright, known as Lance to his friends, is being 
honored by his community and his family on October 23, 2007 for his 20 
years of success leading businesses in Columbia, South Carolina.
  Lance Wright was born to a single mom in Boston, Massachusetts in 
1966. During his younger years, Lance was raised by both his mom, Joan 
Joanne Wright, and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wright of Holly 
Hill, South Carolina. Lance and his mother moved to Columbia when he 
was 10 years old, and it is the town he still calls home. He spent his 
formative years at Fort Jackson elementary schools and W.J. Keenan High 
School. One of his passions in high school was tennis, and he was quite 
accomplished at the game. His competitiveness on the court was a 
precursor to his competitiveness in business.
  Although Lance's family didn't have much financially, he did grow up 
with a tremendous work ethic. At the age of 14, he became a dishwasher 
for a local renowned caterer, Bob Funderburk. Mr. Funderburk served as 
a mentor to Lance, and set him on a promising path.
  While a student at the University of South Carolina, Lance worked his 
way up at the USC Faculty House restaurant from kitchen manager, to 
food and beverage manager, and eventually he became a chef. These jobs 
enabled Lance to pay for college, help his family, and gave him the 
skills he would need to launch a career.
  At 21, Lance left college to start his own restaurant, the Las Vegas 
Deli in downtown Columbia. He and his business partner, Lenwood Greene, 
employed 10 people and built a successful restaurant. After 5 years, 
The Deli, as it was known, was forced to close when the building owner 
sold the property. Lance and Lenwood then opened their second 
restaurant, The Grille. The business was such a success it spun off to 
create a nightclub called Sunset Place and a billiards hall known as 
Sunset Pub. Finally The Grille also launched a very profitable catering 
business.
  It was during this time that Lance reignited his love for tennis. He 
joined a men's tennis team at Greenview Park in Columbia. As captain of 
their team, he recognized that the tennis facilities at Greenview were 
sorely lacking. He led an effort to get the City of Columbia to upgrade 
the facilities. In 1997, the City supported Lance and his grassroots 
effort, and made a commitment to build a new tennis facility. Today 
Greenview Park has nine lighted tennis courts, hosts numerous teams for 
league play and tournaments, and provides programs for youth.
  In 1995, Lance married Adrienne Felder of Columbia. It became clear a 
few years into his marriage that his businesses were taking too much 
time away from his family. So in 1998, he made a break from The Grille 
and began Home Choice Mortgage in a spare bedroom at his home. The 
business grew to seven employees, and provided alternative financing 
for residential loans to many South Carolinians.

[[Page E2171]]

  Yet Lance knew there were community needs and that he had the 
entrepreneurial skills to help address those needs. As a child, he 
often rode his bike to a pharmacy to pick up his grandmother's medical 
supplies and prescriptions. That experience helped him visualize the 
need for a mail order company to supply these products to rural 
communities and senior citizens. In January 2000 he launched National 
Direct Diabetic Supply. Lance and his two associates, Tom Crocker and 
Andre Lewis, began the company to serve diabetics by mail. The company 
grew so quickly they had to move every year for the first 3 years to 
accommodate its growth.
  Currently the company exists as National Direct Home Pharmacy. It has 
added additional services which include a full service pharmacy. Lance, 
as CEO and President, oversees approximately 125 employees and serves 
patients all over the country. He still maintains the company 
headquarters in Columbia, South Carolina.
  Lance continues to support the community and contributes generously 
to the arts, the First Tee golf program for youth, and the American 
Diabetes Association among other worthy causes. He and his wife, 
Adrienne, have two sons, Lancelot II and Sean Christopher.
  Lance continues to support the community and contributes generously 
to the arts, the First Tee golf program for youth, and the American 
Diabetes Association among other worthy causes. He and his wife, 
Adrienne, have two sons, Lancelot II and Sean Christopher.
  Madam Speaker, I invite you and my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating Lancelot Wright, Sr. for 20 years of entrepreneurial 
success and dedication to his community. His perseverance and passion 
have built a better life for his family, his community and the 
customers he serves. Lance is a true success story, whose life could 
have taken a very different direction. His family, faith and his 
fortitude helped him achieve remarkable things. I wish him continued 
success and Godspeed!

                          ____________________