WEST FRANKFORT - James Bradford Wright, 65, died at 9:45 p.m. Friday, April 26, 2013, at his residence. He was born July 27, 1947, in Herrin, to Wayne and Mavis (Flota) Wright. Jim was a 1965 graduate of FCHS and a 1972 graduate of SIU. He is a member of FCHS Achievement Hall of Fame and was the 1996 SIU Outstanding Alumnus and Commencement Speaker for School of Applied Arts and Science. Jim was an active volunteer in his communities, volunteering time and efforts at Dranesville United Methodist Church in Herndon, Va., serving as the head of the administrative board and long range planning. Additionally, in retirement, he served as chairman of the long range planning committee for the city of West Frankfort, also serving as a member trustee of Denning Cemetery. He served one year on the FCCC board. Jim devoted his time and energies to serve on the SIU Advisory Board to the School of Applied Arts and Sciences. He was also a member of Save Old City Hall Preservation Group and was awarded by the Mayor of West Frankfort, the Citizen of the Year award. In 2003, Jim retired from the U.S. Government and government service after 20 years at the White House. He served in the executive office of the President as the director and branch manager of the EOP Information Technology Data Center. During his 20 years, Jim was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the assistant to the president for Management and Administration five times. Also, during this 20-year period of service he was heavily involved in technology demands related to Iran Gate, the White Water Investigation, Travel Gate, and the impeachment of the president, while meeting the legal demands of the Independent Counsel and Congress, as it is related to getting White House emails, electronic documents electronically searched and presented to Congress and the prosecutors. Jim also served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969 as a Computer Technician, Specialist 5, at 8th Army Headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. Prior to his government service, Jim worked in IT at National Headquarters for Marriott Corp. in Bethesda, Md., managing the Reservation Systems, National HQ for AAA in Falls Church, Va., and National HQ GEICO in Bethesda, Md. After his retirement from government service, he served as chairman of TKC Communications Corp. in Fairfax, Va. During his three-year term, this start up IT company went from earning $60 million per year to $340 million. All who truly knew Jim knew of his straightforwardness, acceptance, and that he truly was a man of his word. Above all else, except for his family and country, Jim's great passion in life was golf. For 17 plus years, he played golf at Loudoun Country Club of Purcellville, Va., with the same seven buddies. Upon retirement to West Frankfort, Jim joined Franklin County Country Club in West Frankfort and became a member of the famous Baloney Bunch at the club. In retirement, one of Jim's goals was to travel the country and play at many of the best golf courses. In the last few years, he managed to make it to Pebble Beach, Calif.; Bandon Dunes, Ore.; Coeur D'Alene, Idaho; Banff National Park, Conn.; Cogg Hill in Chicago; Greenbier, W.V.; Pinehurst, N.C.; Saw Grass, Fla.; all of the RTJ courses in Alabama; and Golden Horse Shoe and Kingsmill courses in Williamsburg, Va. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Mavis Wright; grandfather, Raymond Wright; grandmother, Mattie Wright; uncle, Francis Wright; grandfather, Herman Flota; and grandmother, Maude Flota. Survivors include son, Shawn E. Wright and wife, Deborah, and new grandson, Steele from Harpers Ferry, W.V.; brother, Charles G. (Greg) Wright , who is retired U.S. Army, Special Forces of Beverly Hills, Fla.; Karen Wright of Great Falls, Va.; aunt Margaret Wright of West Frankfort; cousin, Warren and Linda Wright of West Frankfort; nephew, Charles G. Wright, Jr. and wife, Maureen, of Gross Ile, Mich.; great-nephew, Chucky Wright; great niece, Megan Wright of Gross IIe, Mich.; nephew, John and Lisa Wright; great-nephew, Cole Wright; great-niece, Cali Wright, all of West Frankfort; nephew, Arnold Wright of Ocala, Fla.; nephew, James Wright of Miami; niece, Debbie and Jeff Woolard; great-nephews, Jacob and Dalton Woolard; and great- niece, Kylie Woolard, all of West Frankfort. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 1, in Union Funeral Home in West Frankfort, with Minister Ed Pool officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, at the funeral home. Interment will be in Denning Cemetery on the Orient Road. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois. Envelopes will be available and accepted at the funeral home. Online condolences of sympathy may be made at www.unionfh.com. Published in The Southern Illinoisan on April 28, 2013 Published in The Southern Illinoisan on April 28, 2013