[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 61 (Thursday, April 17, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E656]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              THE PASSING OF RINCON CHAIRMAN VERNON WRIGHT

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                          HON. DARRELL E. ISSA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 17, 2008

  Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Rincon 
Band of Luiseno Indians Chairman Vernon Wright. Chairman Wright passed 
away on Thursday, April 10, 2008, of liver cancer at the age of 53--far 
too soon for a man that had so much left to give to his tribe and 
community.
  Born in San Diego, California to Vernon Hollis Wright and Beverly 
Wright, Chairman Wright was a lifelong resident of the area. After 
graduating from San Diego High School and Palomar College, he studied 
at the Gemological Institute of America and operated a jewelry shop in 
Escondido, California until becoming politically active with the Rincon 
tribe in the 1990s.
  In 2006, he was elected chairman of the 650-member tribe, after 
serving as a council member and vice-chairman for several years. As 
chairman, he did a number of good things for the tribe and surrounding 
community. He worked hard over the years to heal internal strife that 
dwelled within the tribe and helped to mend disagreements with the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs. He also brought the community together 
through his leadership and helped to usher in the tribe's current 
economic success.
  Not long before his passing, some tribal members had begun calling 
him ``Chief,'' a title that hadn't been used on the reservation for 
decades. This informal honor was appropriate for Chairman Wright, 
because he worked tirelessly for the benefit of his tribe. Months 
before his passing, he devoted countless hours and effort to helping 
tribal members recover from the Poomcha Fire, which devastated the 
Rincon reservation last year.
  Chairman Wright was a good man, an honorable man, who was taken from 
the world too soon and with much left to accomplish. While his passing 
is a tragedy, he truly touched the lives of those around him, and the 
Rincon Tribe has been left much better because of his leadership and 
guidance. He will be remembered and missed.

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