Calvin Wright turns 100

[Michael Brunelle]

[Michael Brunelle]

Quoting from various articles responding to his passing in 1988:

Wright became prominent in Idaho politics during the Great Depression, serving as a Democratic leader in Cassia County and winning election as state auditor three times, beginning in 1938.

...ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1944. He won the nomination in 1950 only to lose in the general election to Republican Len B. Jordan by 10,500 votes.

"The best sate official that ever walked into the Statehouse... He was different from anyone else I ever met in politics. He was unselfish about everything." (Joe Williams, past Idaho State Auditor)

"He was a man of strength, but a man of sensitivity and compassion...He was truly a fine example of a true gentleman and a fine public servant and, in the best sense of the word, he was a great politician." (Cecil Andrus, past Governor of Idaho and US Secretary of Interior)

"To many of us he stood for integrity and honor in all his dealings both as a private citizen and as a political figure." (Lillian Dawsen, worked for Cal in the Auditor's office and the IRS)

"...a unique political gentleman who placed character, integrity, and friendship far above partisanship." (William S. Campbell, college friend and past campaign manager for Len Jordan)

[Nick Brunelle]

Grandpa would sometimes be driving past our house when we were out shooting hoops. He would slow down (or stop in the street) to watch and honk his horn every time a basket was made.
Bebe mentioned that Cal & Gwen rarely missed a game (any game)! When they would pull up to watch our coed softball games all of the little children of our teammates (Rigsbys, Duncans, Fritzs, etc.) would flock to their car (they watched the games from the car) as Grandpa was always doling out candy. I still get a chuckle about Grandpa referring to little Timmy Rigsby (aka "T-Bone") as "Beef Steak". Both monikers were fitting (and still are)!

[Andy Brunelle]

Here's a scan of the campaign poster with it's colored border!

[Andy Brunelle]

Grandpa used to give us a dollar after each Optimist football game. In 1972, my midget year, I wrote a contract that increased it to $1.25. By high school they were dropping $5.00 a week on each of us, game or no. And the spending money continued through college, even at graduate school at University of Oregon, a Jackson or two wrapped in press clippings about BK football games or Idaho politics.

[John Brunelle]

Join us at 5 p.m. MST for a toast to Grandpa Cal. Wherever you are raise a glass of Old Taylor's on the occasion of the 100 Year Anniversary of Cal's birth. Some of us will be at Morris Hill Cemetery , St. John's section, at that time.

[Beatriz]

Years ago when I first came to the United States I found myself sitting in the back of grandpa's car next to Senator Frank Church on our way to the Governor's Prayer Breakfast. A jean-clad young kid, new to the culture and politics of this country I thought nothing of it. When we entered the large hall walking between Sen. Church and grandpa I could see people turning heads and whispering in each other's ears.
Years later, back in Spain when Sen. Church came on an official visit to the Basque Country Mike and I were invited to form part of his entourage. When we were sitting at a very special luncheon given by the higher ranks of the government in honor of the distinguished visitor, Frank Church, who was sitting at the head of the table, interrupted everyone, got up and announced that he and Bethine wanted to give Mike a hug from his grandpa and grandma and talked about how wonderful friends they were. People turned heads to look at us and whispered in each other's ears "who are these "kids"? and who is his grandpa?
During the 10 years that I enjoyed the friendship and company of grandpa and grandma, I learned what extraordinary people they were and how rich the experiences that they gave us. Also, now that I have learned more about culture and politics I realized how privileged I was to be part of such unusual circumstances and events.
This Christmas when we were in Boise, Mike and I went for our yearly walk around the Morris HIll cemetery. The snow was knee high and despite our efforts to dig around the location of grandpa's and grandma's stone we were not able to uncover it. However, we could see Frank Church's granite obelisk half hidden under the snow just a few feet away from grandpa's, both quiet and unassuming. And so, these two not so young kids found themselves again between these two extraordinary people with extraordinary lives.
Happy 100th grandpa!

[John Brunelle]

Cal usually kept his baseball glove handy and enjoyed playing catch. He threw lefty, didn't throw hard but was accurate. He kept his mitt (a Pete Rose autograph model I think) clean and always had a fairly new hardball. Don't recall seeing him swing a bat. He shot hoop in the driveway, one-handed set shot, lefty, from close range. Big believer in the bank shot, consistently making baskets off the backboard while telling sad stories of not making the high school team.
Boy did he enjoy going to games...Optimist, Sunday afternoon grade school basketball, weekday morning little league baseball, HS baseball, slow pitch, etc. When you won it was "Good goin'!" and you lost it was "Can't win 'em all."

[John Brunelle]

On the 100th anniversary of Cal's birth his great-granddaughter Cassie played the final regular season basketball game of her senior year. Her team won. She was high scorer in the game with 18 -- 6 for 6 on free throws, 6 of 8 shooting field goals, all on close-range bank-shots off the backboard. Lefty.

[Andy Brunelle]

Got this from Marty Peterson:

"Unfortunately, I'm up north for the funeral of another great Idahoan, Harry Magnuson, and won't be in Boise until 6:30. But I'll be with you in spirit(s). Cal was a wonderful person and the finest State Auditor of my lifetime. Drink a toast to him for me."

[Andy Brunelle]

[Andy Brunelle]

[Lisa Johnston]

Grandpa always called us 'scraggleheads" lovingly.

We loved how every time we came to Boise he'd be sure to take us all out to eat at the Kings Table or the Chuckwagon. And he'd always get us a good room at the Ramada - though that was probably more for us kids to swim because it usually ended up being mom and dad at the hotel while all of the cousin's stayed together on Meadow Drive at Bev and Barney's.

Every birthday you would get $1.00 for each year you were - $10.00 for turning 10 and so on.