Warren E. Wright (March 26, 1893 – March 29, 1962) was an American politician and businessman. Born in Murrayville, Illinois, Wright served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. He owned an automobile dealership in Murrayville, Illinois and later in

Jacksonville, Illinois Jacksonville is a city and the county seat of Morgan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 17,616 at the 2020 census, down from 19,446 in 2010. It is home to Illinois College, Illinois School for the Deaf, and the Illinois Sc ...

. He was also in the hardware business. Wright was involved in the Republican Party. He served as

Illinois state treasurer The Treasurer of Illinois is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Illinois. Seventy-four individuals have occupied the office of Treasurer since statehood. The incumbent is Mike Frerichs, a Democra ...

from 1941 to 1943 and from 1955 to 1957. Wright died of a heart attack at his home in

Park Ridge, Illinois Park Ridge is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States, and a suburb of Chicago. Per the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 39,656. It is located north of downtown Chicago. It is close to O'Hare International Airpo ...

.'Ex-Treasurer Wright Dies Of Heart Attack,' Chicago Tribune, March 30, 1962, part 1, pg. 18

Political career

Wright was a Republican. In 1930, Wright ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for

Illinois treasurer The Treasurer of Illinois is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Illinois. Seventy-four individuals have occupied the office of Treasurer since statehood. The incumbent is Mike Frerichs, a Democ ...

. In 1934, he ran unsuccessfully as the Republican nominee for Illinois's 20th congressional district. In 1936, he ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for one of Illinois'

at-large At large (''before a noun'': at-large) is a description for members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent a whole membership or population (notably a city, county, state, province, nation, club or association), rather tha ...

congressional seats. In 1938, he again ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for Illinois treasurer. In 1940, Wright ran a third time for Illinois treasurer. This time he was successful. Rather than seek reelection as treasurer in 1942, he instead ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for

United States Senate The United States Senate is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and ...

. When

Douglas MacArthur Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American general who served as a top commander during World War II and the Korean War, achieving the rank of General of the Army (United States), General of the Army. He served with dis ...

sought the Republican nomination for president in

1948 Events January * January 1 ** The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is inaugurated. ** The current Constitutions of Constitution of Italy, Italy and of Constitution of New Jersey, New Jersey (both later subject to amendment) ...

, Wright campaigned actively for him and served as his national campaign coordinator. In 1950, he sought to be treasurer again, but lost the Republican primary. In 1952, he ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for

Illinois secretary of state The secretary of state of Illinois is one of the six elected executive state offices of the government of Illinois, and one of the 47 Secretary of State (U.S. state government), secretaries of state in the United States. The Illinois secretary of ...

. In 1954, Wright was again elected Illinois treasurer. Rather than seek reelection as treasurer in 1956, he instead ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for

governor of Illinois The governor of Illinois is the head of government of Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its we ...

. In 1958, Wright sought to be treasurer again, but lost the general election. In his final campaign for office, Wright ran in the 1960 Republican primary for United States Senate. After incumbent Republican governor

William Stratton William Grant Stratton (February 26, 1914 – March 2, 2001) was an American politician who served as the 32nd governor of Illinois from 1953 to 1961. Early life and career Born February 26, 1914, in Ingleside, Lake County, Illinois, the s ...

declined to endorse Wright in this race, Wright supported Democrat

Otto Kerner, Jr. Otto Kerner Jr. (August 15, 1908 – May 9, 1976) was an American jurist and politician. He served as the List of Governors of Illinois, 33rd governor of Illinois from 1961 to 1968 and chaired the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders ...

in the

1960 Illinois gubernatorial election The 1960 Illinois gubernatorial election was held in Illinois on November 8, 1960. Heading into this election, Stratton was seen as vulnerable to being unseated if the Democrats ran a strong candidate, as he had only narrowly won reelection ...

. After his victory of Stratton, Kerner gave Wright a job as a state harness steward at the Maywood Park, which Wright held until before his death in 1962.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Warren 1893 births 1962 deaths People from Morgan County, Illinois Businesspeople from Illinois Military personnel from Illinois Illinois Republicans State treasurers of Illinois 20th-century Illinois politicians 20th-century American businesspeople