Charles Wesley Wright III

My brother, Charles "Chuck" Wesley Wright III, died this week. I don't think he was ever comfortable being Charles Wesley Wright the Third, but I know he enjoyed being Chuck Wright.

Chuck Wright wore a smile and had a lot of friends. Chuck stood 6 foot 3 1/2, but people looked up to him because of his character. Chuck was a leader from the day I was born.

As kids, it seems like we did everything together. We roomed together and played whatever sport was in season together. We swam, shot baskets, played golf, and wore out the grass in both the front and back yard playing catch and throwing grounders to each other. Chuck was good at all of these sports and I tagged along because I was his little brother. He played shortstop and center field on a local team that included future Major Leaguer Mike Torrez. I got my face in the team photo as the batboy. Chuck won a local election to serve as the batboy for the Topeka Reds, Topeka's minor league baseball team. One year later, I got to be the batboy. No election this time. The club asked Chuck to do it again and he said "No, let my brother do it this year."

Chuck was good at elections. In Junior High, Chuck ran for President of the Student Council. With all the school assembled in the auditorium, his campaign manager, a fellow student named Jackie Stewart, gave a stemwinder of a speech, explaining why students should vote for Chuck. He was to end the speech with the campaign slogan, but he messed it up. "Remember," he said, "You can't go Wright with Wrong!" The students howled with laughter at the mistake, Jackie's face turned red in embarrassment, and Chuck was elected by a landslide.

It was great to be Chuck's little brother! On the first day of school, when the teacher calls the class roll for the first time and puts a name with a face, invariably, after my name was called, I would be asked if I was related to Chuck. "Yes," I said, noting the smile on the teacher's face.

Even better, girls - older girls - looked at me and talked to me because I was Chuck's little brother!

Of course, he earned every award there was to earn in Scouts and never shied away from helping me follow the path he set. He presented me with my Eagle Scout Award. In front of the assembly, he shook my hand and, according to the ceremony, was supposed to say "I congratulate you as a brother Eagle Scout...." With a sly grin and perfect timing, he said, "I congratulate you for being my brother...and for being an Eagle Scout."

Chuck showed me how to throw a curveball, and then, after I tried to throw one, he showed me how to repair a broken window. I developed an expertise in window repair, not pitching. He served as best man at my wedding; I served as his. I thought my relationship with him would last forever, and it has, but along the way, it changed. He left home to attend KU, I stayed in Topeka. He married a wonderful lady, Sherri, (photo) and they always welcomed me into their home. They moved away from Topeka and began a family...a wonderful family who I wish lived closer to me and who I wish I knew better, but a phone call or visit always brought Chuck and me back to our youth - to the wonderful times when there were just the two of us - and the world was ours.

The record shows his name to be Charles Wesley Wright the Third, and while he might have been the third of one thing, in my book, he was the first in all other things. He was one of a kind and, Chuck, until we meet again Thank You for Everything...for the example you have been for me...for everything you've taught me...for what you've done for me and Thank You for being my brother.