[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 122 (Thursday, July 31, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S5310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO RICHARD E. WRIGHT

 Mrs. SHAHEEN. Madam President, I wish to honor Chief Richard 
E. Wright for his lifelong commitment to the New Hampshire fire 
service. Chief Wright retired in June after committing 70 years of his 
life to the safety of Granite State residents. Through seven decades, 
he served as a soldier, a firefighter, the fire chief for the town of 
Loudon, and as the chief coordinator for the Capital Area Mutual Aid 
Compact.
  Chief Wright's service to the fire department began when he was only 
11 years old. His paper route included the Central Fire Station and the 
fire chief's home. Soon, he became a fixture at the station, and his 
helpfulness earned him the unofficial title of ``Errand Boy Number 
One.''
  Upon graduating from Concord High School in 1950, he worked for the 
Rumford Press. Then he served his country, enlisting in the U.S. Army 
in 1953. After a 2-year tour of duty in Germany, he returned to New 
Hampshire as a sergeant.
  Although Chief Wright had left the Army, his life of service had only 
just begun. He joined the Concord Fire Department call force in 1957 
and then became a full-time firefighter in 1963. Soon Chief Wright was 
using his skills to manage the Concord department's budget and handle 
administrative tasks.
  Through his instinct for business and management, Chief Wright helped 
to create the Capital Area Mutual Aid Fire Compact in 1965. To this 
day, the Mutual Aid Compact enables Concord and surrounding localities 
to share resources to fund their fire departments efficiently, saving 
taxpayer dollars.
  In 1970 he left full-time fire service to run his family business, 
Wright Communications, although he continued to serve as a volunteer 
firefighter in Concord for several years. Then in 1973 he was appointed 
chief coordinator of the Mutual Aid Compact and became full-time 
coordinator in 1989. In addition to this position, he worked with the 
Loudon Fire Department, serving as their fire chief for 12 years.
  Chief Wright retired from his role as Mutual Aid Compact coordinator 
on June 14, 2014. Throughout his career, he has responded to fires and 
calls from across central New Hampshire 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 
He has coordinated resources in order to address major emergencies and 
keep Granite State residents safe.
  Chief Wright's service to New Hampshire is truly remarkable. I 
congratulate him on his retirement and thank him for his lifetime of 
dedication to our great State.

                          ____________________