By Don Winger, Midland Daily News
[Midland MI] -With the death of Bob Wright last week, another member of the famous Dow ACs men’s fastpitch softball team took his place in history.
Bob was a standout catcher who helped the ACs to the world and national championships during his days with the team between 1947 and 1955.
After his playing days with the ACs, Bob remained active by becoming an athletics official. He worked football, basketball and baseball games throughout the Midland area.
I remember Bob as one of the top football officials in the Michigan High School Athletic Association. When I came to town in 1967, I had the opportunity to work with him on several occasions officiating junior varsity games. He was professional in every sense of the word when dealing with the coaches and players. I’m glad I had the opportunity to know this first-class gentleman. To say he will be missed is an understatement.
After being discharged from the U.S. Army he returned home to his wife, Cecelia, his job at General Motors, and playing fastpitch softball with the Flint M&S Orange major softball team. M&S were Michigan State champions in 1945 and 1946, as well as regional winners. In 1945 they were runners up to the ASA national world champions. That year, Bob was chosen to the first team All Tournament as a catcher. In 1947 Bob was contacted by The Dow Chemical Co. to work for them, and to play for the Dow ACs. Between 1947 and 1955 the Dow team won three state championships, two regional championships, two major championships, the World’s Industrial Championships in Buffalo, and the national ASA championships in Detroit. Bob worked in the accounting and marketing department at Dow, retiring after 32 years of service.
After playing fastpitch softball, Bob continued to be involved in sports by officiating at all the major high schools in football, basketball and baseball for some 35 years with the Michigan high school association. He also officiated at the college level a few years. In the 60s and 70s he coached Little League for five years, Babe Ruth, Connie Mack youth leagues, and also coached an older girls team. In 1984 he was inducted into the State of Michigan Softball Hall of Fame, in 1992 he was inducted into the Greater Flint Sports Hall of Fame, and in 1993 The Dow ACs 1951 team was inducted into the Midland County Sports Hall of Fame.