September 29, 2021 -- One of the few benefits of social media is also a mixed blessing: being notified about the passing of a friend you get to see or speak with only rarely.
Last night, I learned that Steve Wright, Sr., CMS, co-founder and president of Wright Brothers Refrigeration, Griffin, Ga., and one of the nicest people you could ever meet, had died on Saturday, September 25, from symptoms related to the Covid-19 virus. He was 67.
Steve and the Wright Brothers team were recognized as the Contracting Business 2013 Commercial Refrigeration Contractor of the Year, which required me to visit the company. We clicked as friends on both the spiritual and professional level. It was a joy to meet Steve, his wife Beverly, son Steve Jr., and others from the team.
Steve was one to give back. He served as an RSES president, was a presenter at the RSES show, and participated in one or two of CB’s Refrigeration Roundtable meetings, which required him to give up three days from the office. However, things back at the shop were pretty much able to run on their own, since he and Beverly had the operation running well.
During my 2013 visit, Steve shared a photo of himself from his motorcycle days. He looked like someone not be messed with, but as many will tell you, he was not like that at all.
My favorite remembrance: Steve told me that if you write an email to someone, you can jumble up all the letters in each word and the person will be able to figure it out pretty easily. Sort of like playing the Jumble word game in real life. And Wright was right! I would occasionally write him an email with some jumbled words, and he’d do the same. We last communicated by email in March of this year. He signed his note, "Your Fnried, Steve". I signed mine, "rreTy".
Steve was 22 when he and his brother Jim started Wright Brothers Refrigeration, and it remains a commercial refrigeration leader in a competitive and busy region in and around Atlanta, Ga.
The family ask that you consider making a contribution to Women at the Well Ministries, 881 County Road 655, Athens, TN 37303 in memory of Steve’s life, or online at Paypal.me/WATW.
We at Contracting Business extend our condolences to Beverly, Steve Jr., the entire team at Wright Brothers, and to all who knew him well.