John T. Wright (c. 1926 – November 18, 1976), American Democratic Party politician and taxi company proprietor. In 1952, he became the first African-American councilmember in predominantly Republican Bergen County, when he was elected to serve on the city council in Englewood, New Jersey.[1]
Born in Dumont, New Jersey, and raised in Englewood, New Jersey, Wright attended Dwight Morrow High School, where as a student athlete he played both basketball and football. After serving in the United States Army, he attended Junior College of Bergen County and Howard University, where he was on the baseball and football teams.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "This Week in Black History". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. November 4, 1985. p. 18.
- ^ "John T. Wright, 50; First black councilman in Bergen", The Record, November 21, 1976. Accessed July 24, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "In 1953, as a Democrat, Mr. Wright was elected to the Englewood City Council at Age 27. He served until 1961. Born in Dumont, he moved to Englewood at Age 10 and attended Lincoln School and Dwight Morrow High School, where he played football and basketball. Upon graduation he entered the Army. He received an honorable discharge in 1945 and continued his education 'at Bergen Junior College and Howard University, where he played football and baseball."