Researching Joe Wright

Wright currently is Chairman of Chart National’s Advisory Board, Chairman of the Investment Committees of ClearSky Power and Technology Fund, LLC, ClearSky Security Fund, ClearSky Surry Capital, LLC, and Chairman of Altamira Technologies. He is also Executive Partner to Comvest Partners. He also serves as a member of the Board of Sequoia Solutions, Systems Control, Medina Capital and The Council of Chief Executives. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Economic Club of New York, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) and Reagan Alumni Board.

Previously, he was a member of the Board of Cowen Inc., EBIX, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Chairman of Intelsat, CEO of PanAmSat, Chairman of FedData, Chairman of GRC International, Executive Chairman of MTN Satellite Communications, CEO of Scientific Games, Co-Chairman of Baker & Taylor, Vice Chairman and Director of W. R. Grace, Chairman of Grace Energy Company, President of Grace Environmental Company, Senior Advisor to Providence Equity, Vice Chairman of Terremark, President of two Citibank subsidiaries, Vice President and Partner of Booz, Allen and Hamilton, in addition to executive positions in several other smaller companies. He also previously was a Director of Travelers, Harcourt Brace Janovich, Kroll, Priority Holdings, Titan, Terremark Worldwide, Proxim, RealMed, Federal Signal, Education Management Corporation (EDMC), Hampton University, AT&T Government Markets, and others.

Initially employed as a farm servant on his father's farm he moved to Ditton, Cheshire and worked with his brother Jack Wright to establish his kennels for training greyhounds for coursing.When his brother moved to Scotland, he carried on as a dog trainer at Ditton, Cheshire for Mr. Leonard Pilkington (founder of the Pilkington glass firm).

Moving to Formby in the late 19th century to Park Farm, in addition to farming he was a courser and trainer, in which activities he achieved great success and was known from one end of the coursing country to the other as "Joe". Joseph Wright was an outstanding personality and a great man in his profession.He trained Burnaby and Thoughtless Beauty (winners of the Waterloo Cup in 1888 and 1895) and Paracelus and Prince Plausible, the runners up in 1903 and 1905. He won and divided the Netherby Cup with Pins and Needles, Pennegant, Pelerine, Pursebearer, Paracelus and Prince Rupert, Penelope II, Peregrine Pickle, Persine Beauty and Pentonville.

His sons Harold, Bob, Tom, Joe and George all followed their father's footsteps as trainers. His brothers Jack Wright and Tom Wright, were well known in sporting circles, and on many occasions trained competitors of the Waterloo Cup.

He died in 1923 at Park Farm, Raven Meols Lane, Formby after a long illness at the age of 69 years. During the burial service, at St Peters, Formby a sincere tribute was paid by the Canon in a short address, in which he referred to Joe Wright as a good Christian and a good sportsman. He was a good loser and a good winner, chivalrous in defeat and victory alike.

Wright started his professional baseball career in 1890 with the Ottawa team in the Illinois–Iowa League. He broke into the majors in 1895 with the Colonels, where he played the second-most games in the outfield on the team. The next season, he was traded to the Pirates in May.

Wright returned to play in the minor leagues from 1897 to 1900. He died in 1909.