MARCELLUS, NY, March 23, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Roosevelt "Rick" Wright Jr., PhD, Capt., USN (Ret.), has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Counting a remarkable 50 years of service across multiple disciplines, Dr. Wright has led a distinguished career marked by significant contributions to academia, military service, and broadcasting. From 1975 to 2014, he served as a professor of radio, television, and film at the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, where he was renowned for his expertise and for sharing memorable stories from his career in broadcasting. Throughout his four-decade tenure, he balanced his academic responsibilities with work with numerous broadcasting companies across the country and a longstanding commitment to the United States Navy.

In 1981, Dr. Wright was appointed as a naval campus liaison officer for Syracuse University after receiving a direct commission as a lieutenant commander. In this capacity, he collaborated with the Naval Recruiting Command and served as public affairs officer, eventually serving as embarked PAO for the Navy's Annual Great Lakes Cruise operations from 1985 to 1996. His outstanding leadership in this role earned him recognition as the Navy's top naval liaison officer by the United States Naval Recruiting Command in 1992, as well as receiving three Navy Commendation Medals and a Navy Achievement Medal.

But before starting his decorated military service with the U.S. Navy, Dr. Wright was drafted into the United States Army in January 1966 where he completed basic training at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and was named "Outstanding Trainee" of his company, while receiving orders to Fort Bliss, Texas. At Fort Bliss, PVT. Roosevelt R. Wright, Jr. was a student in the U.S. Army Air Defense School and completed training for service as a Hawk Missile Electronics Specialist, where he graduated with high honors. Serving two years of active duty and four years in the reserves until being discharged in 1972, he specialized in missile engineering and electronics maintenance projects for the Hawk Missile Systems while stationed in Europe with the 32nd Air Defense Command. Further services were also conducted with the U.S. Army/Airforce Motion Pictures Services as a motion picture projectionist, and broadcast announcer.

Dr. Wright began his storied teaching career in 1968, as a professor and associate director of the Audiovisual Center at the Elizabeth City State University. Dr. Wright graduated from ECSU after receiving a four-year scholarship in 1964 from the legendary President Dr. Walter N. Ridley, one of his greatest mentors. Dr. Wright had received his scholarship after graduating from P. W. I Moore High School in Elizabeth City, NC, in 1960. Dr. Ridley had learned of Dr. Wright's "love and talents" in the field of audiovisual education, which led to the opportunity to install a 35mm motion picture projection system in the newly renovated Moore Hall Auditorium. Dr. Ridley had purchased the projectors from an old movie theatre in Newport News, VA, and was a pioneer in the field of audiovisual education where he had developed the Audiovisual Center at Virginia State University in 1942. As a high school senior, Dr. Wright completed the motion picture installation in May of 1960, with the first showing of the motion picture, "Cat on A Hot Tin Roof," with Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor to a packed house in Moore Hall Auditorium.

As an undergraduate student at ECSU, Dr. Wright ventured into professional radio broadcasting for the first time at WRAP in Norfolk, VA, where Mrs. Leola Dyson, a pioneer radio broadcaster for the Rollins Broadcasting Corporation, tutored him. Mrs. Dyson provided Dr. Wright with an illustrious introduction to the techniques needed to succeed in the marketing, public relations, programming, production and engineering aspects of radio broadcasting techniques.

In 1962, Dr. Walter N. Ridley sponsored Dr. Wright for membership in the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, SMPTE, where he was selected as a student member, and upon graduation, he was advanced to associate membership for his contributions in the field of motion picture projection and audiovisual education at Elizabeth City State University. Dr. Wright had grown up in the motion picture theatre business, where his father, Mr. Roosevelt R. Wright, Sr., was a motion picture projectionist and electrician for the Carolina/Virginia Amusement Co, in Elizabeth City, NC.

After completing a Bachelor of Science degree in the historic class of first Industrials Arts Majors in 1964, Dr. Wright started graduate studies for a master's degree in Educational Media and Commerce at North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC where he studied under the leadership of audiovisual pioneers, Dr. Norman Johnson and Professor James E. Parker, "a pioneering researcher in the field of photography." Along with his academic studies, Dr. Wright also participated in part-time radio broadcasting opportunities at the local radio station, WSRC Durham. This occasion allowed him to work and meet some of the greatest R&B artists of this period, such as Otis Redding, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Solomon Burke, Junior Walker and the All Stars, as he was the MC at the famous "Stallion Club in Durham."

Upon Dr. Wright's completion of active military service in 1968, he commenced his higher education career with the acceptance of a position as professor and associate director of the Audiovisual Center at Elizabeth City State University, his Alma Mater. In 1969, Dr. Wright was offered a position as Director of the Educational Media Center and Professor at Delaware State University. Also at that time, Dr. Wright was completing an Advanced Educational Media graduate program at Virginia State University under the leadership of Dr. Harry Johnson, Dr. Samuel I Madden, and Professor Eddie Tucker.

During this time, while directing the Educational Media Program at Oetaware State University, which was part of his graduate studies at Virginia State University, he hosted the prominent educational technologist Dr. Donald P. Ely, who ultimately inspired him to pursue doctoral studies at Syracuse University. This meeting with Dr. Ely led to the awarding of a doctoral fellowship to commence graduate studies at Syracuse for a PhD in Instructional Technology, during the fall semester of 1970. While studying for his doctoral degree at Syracuse, Dr. Wright was also active with on-air radio broadcasting activities at historic WOLF-AM and WNDR-AM, which were "two powerhouse top 40 stations."

While taking a break from doctoral studies at Syracuse, Dr. Wright returned to North Carolina Central University, where he had earned his master's degree in educational media, to become a professor and provide leadership for the development of the Radio and Television program for NCCU's Media Program. Durham, NC, also provided an opportunity to serve as a radio announcer, engineer, and program director for radio stations, WDNC, WLLE, and WAFR in the Research Triangle. Later, Dr. Wright furthered his career at radio stations in Trenton, NJ and Washington, D.C., where he worked for NBC 0&0, WRC/WKYS, and served as an adjunct professor of radio, television, and film at Historic Howard University.

In 1975, Dr. Wright returned to Syracuse University, where he joined the faculty of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and resume his doctoral studies. He had received this appointment from Dean Henry Schute, Dr. Larry Myers, Jr., and Dr. Donald P. Ely, which led to a multidisciplinary journey. Dr. Wright has been recognized for his continued leadership in academia, professional broadcasting, and military service. He is a Lifetime Member of the Military Officers Association of America, Board Member and Historian for the National Naval Officers Association, Board Member and former chair of Central Current, a digitally innovative local journalistic news operation in Syracuse, NY, member of the WJPZ, Z89 Hall of Fame and founding advisor for this student-owned and operated radio station at Syracuse University.

While a member of the Newhouse School faculty, Dr. Wright taught thousands of students in the art and science of Radio, Television, and Film, in areas such as Broadcast Performance/ Announcing, Management, Engineering, Media Production, Commercial Writing, Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Mass Media History. One of his favorite delights was the recruitment of student athletes for the university sports programs and training a host of "major market broadcasting sports announcers "who are now working at the top of the profession.

Along the way, while on the faculty, he completed his PhD in Instructional Technology, and wrote a dissertation on "The Effectiveness of Three Selected Contemporary Radio Broadcast Format Containing Brief Instructional Messages." Basically, it was a study of using contemporary radio formats in the process of "causing learning to occur among young listeners," and in this study his target audience was 8th graders in three Syracuse, NY middle schools. The statistical results showed significant learning gains from the Syracuse history lessons presented to the students by "The Dynamics of Radio!"

Also a successful author and public speaker, Dr. Wright is currently completing a book titled "I Turned Up the Radio, But That's Another Story" and has been a keynote speaker at many community events. For many years, he conducted a weekly highly-rated radio program called "Old Skool Sunday," which aired over I Heart Radio Stations, WHEN-AM/WPHR-FM, in Syracuse, NY. He was profiled by the Military Officers Association of American Magazine, as a "Lifetime Learner," provided Historical Leadership for the 50th Anniversary of the National Naval Officers Association at Annapolis, Maryland in 2022. In a particularly notable appearance on NPR in 2004, he shared his insight on the origins and subsequent rise of Black representation in radio, as well as the numerous challenges they faced along the way.

Dr. Wright has also been active throughout his life, contributing to the religious community. He is a lifetime member of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and is presently engaged in researching the historical legacy of Bishop Jermain Wesley Loguen of the AME Zion Church—an advocate for memorializing contributions to social justice through initiatives such as the Underground Railroad in Syracuse, NY during the 1800's. Dr. Wright has also been a member of the St. James Episcopal Church in Skaneatetes, NY, where he was a member of the vestry. His Son, Roosevelt Rubin Wright III was also a member of this church and provided outstanding leadership for the youth of St. James Episcopal Church.

In honor of his enduring impact on education and media, Dr. Wright has been recognized with numerous accolades throughout his career, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the Annual Community Service Award from the 100 Black Men of Syracuse, NY, The Community Conscience Award for this popular radio show "Old Skool Sunday with Dr. Rick Wright," as well as the NAACP Community Leadership Award. He was also awarded the first African American Pioneer Award by the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Continuing to lead a rich and fulfilling family life, Dr. Wright and his partner Mylinda are the proud parents of Roosevelt Rubin Wright III, who successfully obtained bachelor's and master's degrees from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. Their Son, Rubin Wright III, has held media and marketing leadership positions at WCNY Public Broadcasting in Syracuse, and head of marketing for Syracuse University Athletics. Presently, Rubin Wright III is the head of Marketing and Revenue for the "world famous Cleveland Browns of the National Football League."

Today, in retirement, Dr. Wright continues to provide mentoring for many aspiring students who are now attending, and many scholars that have graduated from, the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Plus, he remains active with the United States Military, and National Naval Officers Association, focusing on training new junior officers from the Naval and Coast Guard Academics, plus Army and Airforce ROTC Cadets, enrolled at Syracuse University in helping them to lay various career foundations that will enable them to progress to Flag Rank.

Reflecting on his storied journey through military service, media, and education, Dr. Wright attributes his achievement and longevity to the ideals of lifelong learning - evident through his appreciation of resources such as the Faculty Commons of Bird Library at Syracuse University, and his philosophy of maintaining a positive mental attitude while embracing each day as an opportunity for growth.

"BZ"to All!"

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