Missouri State

JIM WRIGHT
Event Staff, 1980-present
Inducted 2013

Jim Wright has been one of the true unsung heroes of Missouri State intercollegiate athletics for more than three decades and may well be the most indispensable person in the department. Wright's primary MSU assignment is as an equipment technician in McDonald Arena for the Health and Physical Education department and he is also on hand for the game day staff for hundreds of MSU athletics home events each year as part of the official table crew responsible for the administration of the event. Wright manages various scoreboard and timing functions for Missouri State men’s basketball, women’s basketball, football, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, volleyball, baseball and field hockey. In his time he has also worked outdoor track and wrestling and assisted with handball. He also performs scoreboard tasks for the Greenwood High School Blue and Gold Holiday Basketball Tournament, Bass Pro Tournament of Champions and Greenwood boys’ and girls’ home basketball competition. He has previously worked basketball for the Greene County League and Mid-Lakes Conference, both football and basketball for the Missouri State High School Activities Association and Greenwood football. It has been estimated that his service on the MSU campus has encompassed more than 5,000 athletics events, including more than 4,000 basketball games. He has also worked as a game-day liaison for incoming game officials for MSU home events prior to their arrival at the competition site. A native of Springfield and a Kickapoo High School product, Wright is a graduate of Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. He was inducted into the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2009 as the winner of the Paul Morrison Award. He also joined the Missouri Southern State Hall of Fame in 2004 and was with the MSU handball team entry into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.