[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 161 (Wednesday, October 1, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6904-S6905]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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    RECOGNIZING THE INDUCTION OF WILLIAM ``POPEYE'' WRIGHT INTO THE 
                      NATIONAL GUARD HALL OF FAME

 Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life and 
legacy of an extraordinary Arkansan--William ``Popeye'' Wright of 
Paris--who will be posthumously inducted into the Arkansas National 
Guard Hall of Fame this October.
  Known to many simply as ``Popeye,'' Wright was the epitome of 
American service and sacrifice. His military career spanned nearly five 
decades and three major conflicts: World War II, the Korean war and 
Operation Desert Storm. His determination and bravery were evident from 
the moment he left school in 1944 to enlist in the Army. Serving in the 
European theater he was captured behind enemy lines during what is 
believed to be the Battle of the Bulge. In a remarkable act of courage, 
he escaped under gunfire despite sustaining shrapnel wounds--a 
testament to his grit and resilience.
  For his valor, Wright received three Bronze Stars, three Purple 
Hearts, and France's Croix de Guerre. After the war, he returned to 
Arkansas and completed his education at Arkansas Tech University and 
continued his service as commander of the Paris National Guard Armory. 
His unit was activated for Korea in 1951, and decades later, he 
returned to Active Duty, deploying to the Persian Gulf in 1992.
  Beyond uniform, Mr. Wright remained deeply devoted to his community. 
He served with Paris's fire department, mentored generations of young 
Arkansans, and was a familiar face at local football games. His quiet 
leadership and steadfast character left a lasting imprint on the lives 
he touched and the community he served.
  In recognition of his service, the street outside the Paris National

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Guard Armory will bear his name as a lasting tribute to a man whose 
legacy will be a tremendous source of pride for his hometown, State, 
and country for generations to come.
  Arkansas is proud to call Popeye Wright one of our own. His story is 
a reminder of the values we hold dear: duty, honor and service. I ask 
my colleagues to join me in honoring a life well lived and celebrating 
his well-deserved place in the Arkansas National Guard Hall of 
Fame.

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