Bill Wright:
CLASS OF 1969
Pius X High SchoolClass of 1969
Downey, CA
Bill's Story
After high school I entered the Navy in July,1970 and was stationed in Okinawa and Hawaii. I received my pilots license thru the navy and stayed current for several years. After active duty in 1974, I got hooked on speedway motorcycles and was racing 5 nights a week for a while. It took its toll though; it cost me my marriage. I came home from the races at Costa Mesa one Friday night and everything I owned was on the porch. The deal was done, and we both moved on to new lives and new partners.
Anyway, in 1976 I moved up to drag boats and had a pretty good record of wins, mostly in Washington State.
Drag boats have a nasty habit of crashing and my wife had no interest in becoming a widow, so the boat had to go. I did have some close calls and lost a few friends to horrible crashes... and I had some great times and still have some stories to tell.
I have been...Expand for more
drag racing since high school and am still heavily involved. In 1998 toured with Tony Schumacher, current world champion, and was crew chief and engine builder for Chet Herbert and Zane Shubert on their A/Fuel Dragster and Top Alcohol Dragster. Spent the last 20 years building my own street rod.
In the mid 70's I started a ceramic tile company and was actively installing wall and floor covering till '98 when I passed it over to my son Jeff. In 2003, I started building custom homes in Phoenix AZ and I am still an active contractor even in this lousy economy.
I stay plenty busy with my grand kids...always something going on; and I wouldn't trade that time for money or gold!
I'll celebrate my 32nd. anniversary with Shirley this May...
I think I've grown on her.
I still stay in touch with John Wilkinson. We chat about everything, mostly Bikes and hot rods.
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