[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 113 (Thursday, July 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1489]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF LORENZEN WRIGHT

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                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 29, 2010

  Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Memphian 
and NBA star Lorenzen Wright. Mr. Wright was born in Memphis, Tennessee 
and attended the historic Booker T. Washington High School. After 
graduating, he attended the University of Memphis where he helped lead 
the team to the ``Sweet Sixteen'' in the 1995 NCAA tournament. While 
there, he was selected Third Team All-American by the Associated Press 
and earned the nickname ``The Howl'' because of his tendency to yell 
after exciting plays.
  In 1996, after playing two seasons for the Memphis Tigers, Mr. Wright 
entered the NBA draft and was selected 7th overall by the Los Angeles 
Clippers. After three seasons with the Clippers, he played for the 
Atlanta Hawks for two years before returning home to play for the newly 
relocated Memphis Grizzlies in 2001.
  For Lorenzen Wright, playing for his hometown team at the 
professional level gave him a chance to play alongside some of the best 
athletes for the city he loved. During his tenure with the Grizzlies, 
he became an emotional leader of the team, bringing passion and 
dedication to each and every game. Friend and former NBA star Penny 
Hardaway recalled the fans' love for Lorenzen and how ``he attacked the 
game every single night.'' After five seasons with the Memphis 
Grizzlies, he was traded back to the Atlanta Hawks and has since played 
for the Sacramento Kings and most recently the Cleveland Cavaliers 
until his retirement in 2009.
  Off the basketball court, Lorenzen Wright was a devoted family man 
and a loyal friend. He is survived by six children, Lorenzen Jr., 
Loren, twins Lamar and Shamar, Lawson and Sofia, his parents Herb 
Wright and Deborah Marion and a host of family and friends. Lorenzen 
Wright's passing is a great loss to our city and the basketball world. 
I will miss him as a friend and appreciate all he did for Memphis. 


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