NORWICH – He was always fair, say friends of the late reporter and volunteer firefighter Jim Wright, who passed away Tuesday at the age of 71.
The longtime Press & Sun Bulletin reporter covered the news of Chenango County for 42 years, filing his final story in mid February. In recent years, he was the paper’s Broome County police reporter.
“He’s been more than a reporter to me,” said Chenango County Board of Supervisor Chairman Richard B. Decker. “He’s been a good friend. He was always fair and wasn’t afraid to ask the hard questions.”
Decker, who was also a patrolman and later chief of the Norwich Police Department, said he could remember when Wright first came to Norwich in 1966. “We built a good relationship over the years,” he said.
The Press’ Assistant Managing Editor Al Vieira, who was also a sports editor for The Evening Sun in the late 70s, said Wright was “an incredible man and an inspiration to all of us.”
“He was a leader by example for our young journalists, showing them the value of thorough reporting and the importance of cultivating sources. Nobody was as dialed in to our police and fire agencies as Jim.”
“And on top of that, Jim was a friend to all of us. We will miss his smile, his wisdom and his absolute love for this business. Our newsroom will forever miss him.”
Wright began his journalism career at the Endicott Daily Bulletin and also worked for several Owego newspapers before becoming a reporter for radio station WEBO in Owego. He joined what was then The Evening Press in 1966 and quickly became a fixture in Norwich.
He was also a volunteer fireman for more than 50 years, serving in Owego and Norwich. He was a member of the Norwich Fire Department and was in his second year as president of the Firefighters Association of New York Board of Trustees. In that role, Wright was responsible for overseeing the Fireman’s Home in Hudson, a home established in 1892 for retired and disable volunteer firefighters. He also was president of the facility’s board of directors, and secretary of the state Association of Fire Safety Educators.
Friend and co-volunteer Jim Williams of Norwich said Wright had “a real feel for the volunteer firemen who were in the home and fought the battle to see that those guys got everything they needed. That was a big part of his life.”
Williams said Wright was well-liked and a true friend.
“There wasn’t a better, fairer person as far as I’m concerned. Whether you were the problem or the hero, he wrote very fair descriptions.”
Wright also served as Chenango County Fire Coordinator for many years.
Town of Guilford Supervisor Alton B. Doyle said he first knew Wright while serving as coach and later in the athletics department of the Oxford Academy Schools. He will remember him as a good friend and good reporter.
“This is a blow,” he said upon learning of his death.
Wright is survived by his wife, Janice, whom he married in 1969, four daughters – Nicki Conroy of Norwich, Beth Lynne Wright of Somerset, N.J., Wendy Sue Wright and her significant other David Burdick of Norwich, and Jamie Lynn Moore and her husband Gary of Norwich – and nine grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Fahy Funeral Home in Norwich. A complete obituary will appear in a later edition of The Evening Sun.