Billy Pat Wright
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 159th district
In office
2005–2013
Preceded byRob Mayer
Succeeded byBill Lant
Personal details
Born (1937-03-17) March 17, 1937
Rector, Arkansas
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLinda
ChildrenElaine
Leah
Laura
ResidenceDexter, Missouri
Alma materNational University
Occupationreal estate agent
rancher
WebsiteCampaign Website

Billy Pat Wright (born March 17, 1937) is an American, former real estate agent, former rancher, and a former Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives.[1] He represented the 159th district, which includes parts of Stoddard County, Cape Girardeau County, and Wayne County, from 2005 to 2013.[1] He announced his intention to run for state senate in the 25th district in 2012 in February 2011 only to drop out of the race in May 2012.[2][3]

Early life and career

Billy Pat Wright was born in Rector, Arkansas in 1937.[1] He attended Marmaduke High School in Marmaduke, Arkansas.[1] He then went to National University and received his B.A.[1] He also attended Three Rivers Community College.[2] He later became a Southwestern Bell Telephone Company real estate agent and rancher.[1] In addition, he is a U.S. Army veteran.[2] During his career he received the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Dexter Rotary Club and he was the president of the Cotton Club of the Telephone Pioneers of America.[1] He has also been legislative chair of the Communications Workers of America and president of the Dexter Rotary Club.[2] He is a member of the Church of Christ, the American-International Charolais Association, the Masonic Lodge, and the Missouri Cattlemen's Association.[1][2] He is married with three children and nine grand children.[1]

Political career

Billy Pat Wright first ran for the Missouri House of Representatives in 2004.[1] The 159th district had become open when term limits prevented Rob Mayer from running for reelection. Wright defeated Jerry Elder and Don Stephens in the Republican primary and then went on to defeat Boyce Wooley in the general election.[4][5] Two years later Wright beat Boyce Wooley again and this time he beat him by a greater margin.[6] In 2008 and 2010, Wright won re-election against Bill Burlison, a former U.S. Representative.[7][8] In February 2011, Billy Pat Wright decided to run for the 25th district in the Missouri Senate.[2] It was an open seat because Rob Mayer is unable to run for re-election due to term limits.[2] He decided in May 2012 to retire instead of running for the seat.[3] On November 6, Dennis Fowler was elected to the position.

Electoral history

2010 General Election for Missouri’s 159th District House of Representatives
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Billy Pat Wright 8,847 70.3
Democratic Bill Burlison 3,741 29.7
2008 General Election for Missouri’s 159th District House of Representatives
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Billy Pat Wright 10,179 61.8
Democratic Bill Burlison 6,283 38.2
2006 General Election for Missouri’s 159th District House of Representatives
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Billy Pat Wright 7,230 56.7
Democratic Boyce Wooley 5,512 43.3
2004 General Election for Missouri’s 159th District House of Representatives
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Billy Pat Wright 8,518 55.0
Democratic Boyce Wooley 6,978 45.0

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Representative Directory". House.mo.gov. Retrieved 2015-09-20.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Local News: State Rep. Wright to run for Missouri Senate in 2012 (02/25/11)". seMissourian.com. 2011-02-25. Archived from the original on 2016-04-08. Retrieved 2015-09-20.
  3. 1 2 McCoy, Mike (2012-05-23). "Local News: State representative drops out of state Senate race (05/23/12)". seMissourian.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-01. Retrieved 2015-09-20.
  4. ↑ Archived July 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Archived June 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ Archived July 22, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ Archived June 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ "State of Missouri | All Races". Archived from the original on February 20, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
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