'No such thing as a high school production' for Paul Wright

By Wendy Bynum-Wade
GOSHEN — Working 30 years in the same job isn’t common anymore. But when Charles J. Hooker, former superintendent of the Goshen School District, hired Paul E. Wright as the high school’s vocal music teacher, he knew he was making a long-term investment in a man who would change the direction of two important Goshen institutions.
Hooker was not only in charge of Goshen schools, he was also a trustee at the First Presbyterian Church in Goshen, a church desperately in need of an organist and director of music. The rest, as they say, is history.
The Goshen school board recently made Paul Wright’s legacy a permanent part of history at the building where he spent most of his career by renaming the school’s auditorium in his honor. Administrators, board members, family, former colleagues and former students were all on hand recently for the unveiling ceremony of the new sign going in the school’s auditorium lobby naming the venue the Paul Wright Auditorium. Currently serving the district as a middle school for 6th through 9th grades, the C.J. Hooker building was the district’s high school until the present high school was completed in 1976.
In addition to 30 years of top-notch Broadway musicals, Wright spent 40 years at the First Presbyterian Church, at times leading up to seven choirs (children, teens, adults, hand bells and chimes).
He also served as the coordinator of youth activities for the Goshen Teen Recreation Committee and was the driving force behind many Goshen Chamber of Commerce Christmas Carol Sing-a-longs. In his spare time, he also gave piano and organ lessons from his home in Hambletonian Park. He was honored numerous times throughout his career, including the 1997 Lifetime Achievement from the Goshen Chamber of Commerce.
A 'contagious' spiritOne of the speakers at the dedication ceremony was former Goshen High Principal Roy Reese, who has also served the district as Superintendent of Schools. When joining the district back in 1985, Reese said he was drawn to Wright, his passion for creating a love of music in his students and his reputation for high quality Broadway musicals each spring. It was a great match, since Reese’s expertise was on the technical side of the stage and to this day, Roy Reese continues to create lighting and special effects magic for the productions at Goshen High School.
Reese pointed out that Paul Wright’s attitude was contagious. Wright’s forte was getting students to take chances, believe in themselves and the value of hard work in striving for perfection. Wright believed that there would be no such thing as a “high school production” at Goshen High School. Thanks to that dedication, and that of his family and die-hard supporters, that legacy continued throughout Wright’s tenure at Goshen High School. It is that legacy of dedication from “Goshen’s Music Man” that has resulted in expectations of excellence from the current directors and students of “Cinderella”, the 57th in the long line of Broadway shows.
Paul Wright died in December 2012 at the age of 84, survived by his wife and partner in all of his endeavors, Phyla and five children; Nadine, Gail, Julie, Steven and David. He was also survived by 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. As youngest son David reminded the crowd gathered at the dedication, Wright was passionate about his family, his faith and his music; in that order. Goshen will forever be a better place because he chose Goshen as the place to embrace all three.