The diamond drill., 1922-01-20
LUTHER L. WRIGHT

one more OF the vast number that are
moving toward that mysterious
realm, has passed its portals.
To those who knew Mr.. Wright In
the days OF long ago, in the flower OF
youth, and has followed his career
through the successive years OF his
busy life II means much. Luther L..
Wright was the most powerful single
influence Ia upped peninsula educa-
tionaI circles and TO his leadership
and because OF his efforts the uper
peninsula can boast OF schools that
are excelled no where and equaled
only in few places.
II was the good fortune OF the writ
or to have known Mr.. Wright In those
early days and TO have been associ-
.ated with him more or less for over a
quarter of century, first as an up
per peninsula educational Official
and later as state orflcial in an ac-
tivity which brought US frequently
together for comparison OF notes.
Luther l.. Wright was above the av-
erage OF the schoolmen OF the penin-
sula In the early days. 1t was no
mean array OF talent. either, that as
sembled at Iron Mountain to form
the Upper Peninsula Educational
Association, an organization that
still lives and has great influence.
There was Cooley OF Calumet. Wood
ley of Menominee, Hardy OF Ishpem-
ing, Ferguson OF the 500, Parmenter
of Iron Mountain. Davis OF Negau-
nee. yesterday OF the 500, Hubbard
sof Afenominee, Amdon of Iron Mt.
Montgomery Of Champion, Miss
Chandler OF Marquette, Miss 0lcott
OF Ishpeming and several other lead
ers OF lesser prominence. Many OF
these men and women passed TO the
Great Beyond: almost all of them
have passed out OF school work.
Luther Wright was the inspiration
and the light OF that body. He was
easily distinguishable as the leader
of it He had a breath OF yison, a
diplomacy that won one to his line Of
action and courtesy that enamour-
ed him to all OF his associates.
Education was then Just emerging
from the pioneer stage. la this PEN
insula II was taking on that fixed
position which Il now holds. II was
the work and the influence
OF the men at the head OF educational
affairs OF that day that laid the foun-
dation OF the greatness to which the
peninsula's educational system
asplres today. In the laying Of that
foundation, Luther Wright was o
managing director. powerful advo-
cate and skilled artisan. lie had
the vision OF what was needed, knew
what could be got and he set out TO
get 1t.
His success as an educational lead
er In the peninsula was the influence
that placed him In the highest posi-
ton OF state educational leadership,
the ONCE OF superintendent OF pub
lic instruction.
In that ONCE he found conditions
that needed master mind and an
adrolt hand to straIghten out. Edu-
cation In Michigan was at that time
In what may be termed transitory
period. He came into office at the
ushering In OF new era, one whose
eculmination In sure 10 be the eleya-
ton OF the teachers profession from
that OF a mere stepping stone TO
that OF a profession which men and
women will adopt as life work, Mr
Wright had that vision OF II and he
sget out to flx conditions SO that the
tend sought would be finally attained
The influence Of his efforts are still
felt.
The latter days OF HIS life were
spent In work only partially re-
lated to the general educationa
line that he had spent his life at H'
succeeded Supt. Clark TO the direct
ion OF the state Institute For th'
Deaf at Flint
Here, again. he found II necessar,
10 revamp and reelign the activity
The big flre, coupled with the sting
mess OF the state legislature in tn
DAYS passed, had seriously cripple'
the institution. He set about hi
task with his characteristic energ
and In few years he succeeded Il
getting order ont OF chaos and plac
ing his institution on an excellen
footing.
Ills long period OF activity tol
upon him in the very late days an
there was slowing up In his custom
ary energy. thing that was to b
expected OF one who had been so Ion
moving at the high tension tina
Mr.. Wright had moved. II was th
prelude 20 the end; the first entry o
the final page or useful and dis
tlnguished career.
In the death OF Luther l.. Wrigh
Michigan losos faithful servant
80 associates true friend and hi
.Faniflt Kind and Loving father.