Wright, Helen, 1914-1997

Philip L. Wright was born July 9, 1914 in Nashua, New Hampshire, to Avis and Clarence Wright. He obtained a bachelor’s and a master’s of science in zoology at the University of New Hampshire and, after completing a Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin, began teaching at the University of Montana in 1939. Dr. Wright taught zoology, ornithology, and wildlife techniques at UM for over forty-five years until his retirement in 1985.

Wright began his involvement with the Boone and Crockett Club in 1950 when he was appointed one of the Club’s first official measurers for big game trophy heads. In addition to scoring game heads in the state of Montana, Dr. Wright taught courses on big game scoring at the University of Montana (then known as Montana State University.)

In 1971, Dr. Wright joined the Boone and Crockett Club as a regular member and was appointed that same year to the Club’s Records of North American Big Game Committee. In 1978, Dr. Wright was appointed chair of the Records Committee and served as such until 1986. After stepping down as chair, Dr. Wright continued to serve on the Records Committee until his death in 1997. In 1984, he was elected to Honorary Life Membership at the Club and in 1996 he was awarded the Club’s prestigious Sagamore Hill Medal in recognition of lifetime service.

In May of 1997 University of Montana President George Dennison renamed the zoological museum at the University the Philip L. Wright Zoological Museum. Dr. Wright died on July 16, 1997 in Missoula, Montana.

From the guide to the Philp L. Wright's Boone and Crockett Club papers, 1902-1997, (University of Montana-Missoula Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections)