James Claude Wright, Jr. was born in Fort Worth, Texas. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in December of 194, was commissioned in 1942 and flew combat missions in the South Pacific. Mr Wright was elected as a Democrat to the 84th and the seven succeeding Congresses and served until 1989, majority leader (99th Congress), Speaker of the House of Representatives (100th and 101st Congresses) and is a resident of Fort Worth, Texas.