Former Topeka Mayor Doug Wright, who lived life of 'incredible highs and lows,' dies at 74
Doug Wright, mayor of Topeka from 1983 to 1989, died Thursday at age 74.
Wright's life was characterized by "incredible highs and lows," a 2008 Capital-Journal article said.
Topeka police responded about 4:30 p.m. Thursday to a report at an unspecified location of a deceased person, later identified as Wright, said Gretchen Spiker, communications director for Topeka's city government.
"At this time, police believe Wright died of natural causes," Spiker said. "We extend our condolences to Wright's loved ones."
Doug Wright became Topeka's mayor at age 34
Wright was the son of Chuck Wright, who was Topeka's mayor from 1965 to 1969. Chuck Wright is best remembered for guiding Topeka through the aftermath of the 1966 tornado.
Doug Wright graduated from Washburn University School of Law, then worked in the Topeka city attorney's office before winning election as mayor at age 34, at a time when Topeka was governed by a city commission.
Wright won reelection as mayor in 1985, the year the capital city switched to a new form of government featuring a city council. He then lost the mayor's race in 1989 to Harry W. "Butch" Felker.
Topeka's former mayor Doug Wright spent 10 months in prison
Wright continued to work as an attorney until being disbarred in 2003 and spending 10 months in prison on convictions linked to the theft of about $86,000 from an elderly great-aunt, whom he fully repaid.
Wright told The Capital-Journal in 2008 that he had begun making real estate deals that paid in large lump sums, but they tended to leave him strapped for cash while awaiting the payout, so he turned to the account he oversaw for his great-aunt and used it as a bank until the account ran short and some of her bills weren't paid.
"I used her money and I misused her money," he said. "I borrowed it from her. I paid her back. I borrowed and paid her back. It was wrong for me to do that, and I paid a price for it."
Doug Wright continued to be interested in local government
After getting out of prison, Wright initially sold cars and later worked as a bus driver for Topeka Metro while continuing to maintain a keen interest in local government and Topeka history.
Wright encouraged a Topeka city government committee in 2014 to refrain from having some city council members elected to "at-large" seats.
In 2017, he posed questions to mayoral candidates at a campaign forum.
In early 2020, while serving as vice president of the union that represents Topeka Metro's drivers, mechanics and bus cleaners in collective bargaining, Wright contended that Topeka Metro wasn't doing enough to protect its passengers and employees from COVID-19.
The Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority responded by taking steps that included temporarily not charging fares, which was among moves Wright had requested.
Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Former Topeka Mayor Doug Wright died Thursday. He was 74.
