Trending
John Ellsworth Wright III, of Wheeling, West Virginia, passed away on July 17, 2024. Jack is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Nancy Hall Wright, and his children, Elizabeth Wright (Howard Mandel), John Wright (Debbie), Wilson Wright, and Cathy Wright, nine grandchildren, Annie and Bea Mandel, Hayden Wright (Dave Stetson), Elliott Wright, Liza Milton (Brent), Priscilla Wright, and Stephen, Matt, and Zach Dyke, and one great-grandchild, Nora Milton. Jack was born on April 2, 1935, to John Ellsworth Wright, Jr. and Mary Wilson Wright. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary Wright Hoffmann.
Jack graduated from Linsly Military Institute in 1953. He received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University, where he was President of the Alpha Rho chapter of Sigma Chi Fraternity and captain of the tennis team, receiving the Fritz Mercur award as the outstanding player. Upon graduation from Lehigh in 1958, Jack was an engineer with the West Virginia State Road Commission before joining Wheeling Steel in 1959. Jack was with Wheeling Steel and then with Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel Corporation for nearly three decades in a variety of positions, and while there, he also served on behalf of the Corporation as President of W.P. Coal Company, Gateway Coal Company, and Harmar Coal Company, and was on the Boards of Iron Ore Company of Canada, Wabush Mining, Tilden Mining, Marquette Mining, Butler Itasca, and Scott's Branch Coal Company. In 1986, Jack became the first President and Chief Operating Officer of the newly formed Wheeling- Nisshin Inc. Jack, and his father and grandfather before him, were synonymous with the steel industry in the Ohio Valley, and he was proud of the role he played in the growth of the industry.
After retiring from Wheeling-Nisshin, Jack found a second career in higher education. While on the Board at Wheeling Jesuit University, he was named Chief Financial Officer, a position he held for several years, before "retiring" again. Jack came out of retirement a second time and was Chief Financial Officer at West Liberty University, where he spearheaded numerous construction projects and was an avid supporter of the Hilltoppers.
Jack also was a member of the Board of the Boy Scouts of America, where he received the Silver Beaver Award, the Board of The Brooke National Bank, the Board of Trustees of St. John Medical Center of Steubenville, and the Board of Advisors of the University of Steubenville. In 1983, Jack was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Allegheny College.
Jack's other passion was tennis. He won more than 100 singles and doubles tournaments in a forty-year span. He also was the long-time Director of the West Virginia Open, the largest tennis tournament in the State. Jack also enjoyed racquetball, paddle tennis, golf, Civil War history, and his dog, Thumper.
Friends will be received on Friday, July 19, 2024, at Kepner Funeral Home, 900 National Road, Wheeling, WV 26003 (304-232-2732) from 2:00-4:00 & 6:00- 8:00 PM.
Private services will be held at the convenience of the family at St. John's Episcopal Church.
Friends are invited to the Wheeling Country Club for a luncheon and Celebration of Jack's Life on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 12:00 PM.
Jack and his wisdom and guidance will be dearly missed by family and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Liza's Place, 308 Mount St. Joseph's Road, Wheeling, WV or The Oglebay Foundation, 465 Lodge Drive, Wheeling, WV.