Wright, Logan, 1933-1999

Logan Wright, Jr. was born on December 3, 1933 in Wellington, Kansas. Instrumental in the development of pediatric psychology, Wright began his professional career with a Master's degree in religious education from Golden Gate Seminary in Berkeley, California. He received a second Master's degree in clinical psychology from George Peabody College in 1962, and a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1964. Wright accepted a faculty position in the Department of Psychology at Purdue University in 1964, where he stayed for two years. The bulk of Wright's career, however, was spent at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) in the Department of Psychology. It was here, from 1966 until 1979, that Wright began his teaching and research in pediatric psychology, focusing on behavioral techniques with health-related disorders in children. Perhaps best recognized as co-founder of the Society of Pediatric Psychology (SPP), Wright also served as the organization's first president in 1969. SPP eventually formed its own section (Section V) under Division 12 of the American Psychological Association (APA). During this time, Wright's focus on health helped form APA's Division 38 (Health Psychology). Wright also co-founded the American Psychological Society (APS), the American Association for Applied and Preventive Psychology, and the North American Association of Masters in Psychology, respectively. Wright served as President of APA during 1986-1987. It is suggested that he may have been the first American Indian to serve in that role. In addition to these many roles, Wright authored four books and over 100 articles on medical and child psychology, many of which are present in this collection. Wright died on December 18, 1999 at the age of 65 at his home in Norman, Oklahoma.