Oral History Interview with W. P. Wright, 1975 Page: 3 of 7
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Mr. Conley: So the Abileneans had surveyed the situation and even had in mind the
command that would like to see in here?
Mr. Wright: Well, of course, that developed as... [Mr. Conley: Oh okay.] ...it went
along. They didn't know which command to begin with, but as you got to checking into
it, [Mr. Conley: Uh huh.] reviewing the situation with each command then it was obvious
that, at the time, SAC was the most logical one for us to approach.
Mr. Conley: Who are some of the Abileneans, I realize maybe, we wouldn't be able to
mention everyone, but who are maybe some of the more influential ones or the hardest
working ones regarding getting Dyess? And let me get to what was your position at that
time? Whether you were Chamber president or head of the committee or what?
Mr. Wright: Well, I started out as Chairman of the Military Affairs Committee, then I
was co-chairman with Harold McMahon and jointly, we worked together on it. And, uh,
I imagine that I'm, was on most every trip that was made to Washington or elsewhere
along with some of the others. [Barnard?] Hanks, oh he was back, when I was, eliminate
that. [Mr. Conley: Okay.] He was back in the other.
Mr. Conley: Oh he helped with contacts for Barkeley, right?
Mr. Wright: Barkeley, yeah. It was Howard McMahon that [mumbles]... But each case,
the existing mayor at the time was very active. [Mr. Conley: Uh huh...... About how
man...] Malcolm Meeks, Harold McMahon, Oliver Howard. [long pause]
Mr. Conley: About how many trips did these or did you folks make and how, what kind
of period are we talking about there, approximately what years?
Mr. Wright: You're going to have to refer to your own files [Mr. Conley: The files.] to
get an answer to that and....
Mr. Conley: This was in the early fifties?
Mr. Wright: Yeah, I would imagine. Your files at the Reporter-News would reflect a
better story [Mr. Conley: Right] than I can recall... [Mr. Conley: Well, maybe.] just off-
hand memory.
Mr. Conley: As far as dates and exact times and places, maybe yeah. Here I'll just check
that part there out. Were there many problems involved in getting Dyess or things that
you ran up against that you hadn't planned for? Holes in the road so to speak?
Mr. Wright: Well, uh...
Mr. Conley: Or maybe negative people that said "forget it" or something like that?3
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Conley, Jim & Wright, W. P. Oral History Interview with W. P. Wright, 1975, text, 1975; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth744316/m1/3/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Public Library.