Wright, Samuel E., 1946-

Samuel E. Wright was born in Washington, D. C. He attended Howard University. Wright arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1979. Samuel E. Wright candidly discusses growing up during the 1960s racial riots and notes the influence of black activist Stokely Carmichael during that era. He attended Howard University and began a career in public transportation that eventually brought him to Los Angeles and then to Las Vegas with a personal invitation from Mayor Bill Briare. Arriving in Vegas in 1979, Wright worked for the Regional Transportation Commission for twenty-six years, improving systems for a rapidly expanding city. Wright's career ignited his interest in preserving local history and neighborhoods, leading him to start a non-profit organization called PlaceMakers with Las Vegas architect Bob Fielden.