WRIGHT, Harold R.

Harold R. Wright, 88, of Gold Canyon, Ariz., died on Monday, Nov. 14, in his home after a long fight with cancer. He was surrounded by his family and friends. Memorial services will be at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Gold Canyon on Feb. 11, 2012, at 1 p.m. Interment will be in the columbarium at the church. Memorials are suggested for the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum, P.O. Box 981, Leadville, CO 80461, in Wright's name, where a bronze plaque will be placed in the World of Molybdenum display in his honor. Wright was born on Oct. 30, 1923, in Lyons, the son of Alex and Birdie Wright. He was raised and educated in Macon, Mo. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 and served as a mechanic until he was discharged in 1945. He continued his education at the University of Missouri School of Mines in Rolla, Mo. (now known as Missouri Science and Technology), and graduated in 1950. He worked for a short time engineering power lines in Missouri. In 1952, he moved to Colorado and went to work at the Climax Molybdenum Company, later known as AMAX. He worked underground, in the engineering department and was assistant mine superintendent. He was transferred to the Urad Mine West of Denver and worked as mine superintendent for three years. He was then promoted to mine manager and given the task of building the Henderson Mine near Empire. He later was promoted to executive vice president of AMAX and held this position until he retired in 1984. Wright was said to be well respected by all in the mining business and admired by his employees. He was active in the Society of Mining Engineering and an avid supporter of his alma mater in Rolla. Surviving are his wife, Susan (Rose) Wright, whom he married in 1984; daughter Pat Temple of Arvada; sons Jeffery Wright of Shelton, Wash., and Steve Wright of Prescott, Ariz.; two sisters, Ruby Wooten and Margie Corn of Excello, Mo.; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Barbara; a son, Richard; three brothers Edgar, Ermine and James Wright; and four sisters, Arline Brush, Nellie Sullivan, Louisa Bruner and Francis Roe.