On July 1, 2024 on the Redvers Homecoming Weekend, three new Hometown History highway signs were unveiled. This is the speech that was read by the family of Howard Wright.
Written by:
Shelley (Daniels) Bradley
I would like to have my sisters Linda, Ardyth & Cheryl join me.
Thank you to Bill Murray for nominating Howard and to the town of Redvers for honouring his memory and legacy today.
When I began writing this presentation I was reminded by one of my sisters “the five B’s of writing a good speech….Be Brief Baby Be Brief! … the following is my brief account on our stepdad Howard Wright.
Howard was the oldest of four children. His parents were Leonard and Sarah Wright and his three sisters were Amy, Helen and Betty. He married Agnes Madsen in 1931. Family was important. He was proud of his connection with the Madsen family and his many nieces and nephews.
Howard was a sportsman played hockey with the Redvers team 1930’s to 1950’s, and enjoyed curling. He would have been proud of the fact he was great uncle to Redvers NHL player Dean Kennedy.
Howie [I was a little possessive of Howard, he was “my Howie”] from as early as I can remember, was my hero, my best friend and eventually became my dad. He married our mom (Bernice Daniels, Wright) and instantly had a family of five girls. Such a brave man. I spent as much time with him as I could. As a child I watched and followed every move Howard made. He was kind, fun loving, hard working, generous. He had a good business head and was a good judge of character. He was a good host and enjoyed entertaining friends and family. If you were new to Redvers and especially teachers you were welcomed and soon invited out for a meal at our home.
Howard loved farming and took pride in the “Prairie Haven Stock Farms “ and his pure bred Hereford cattle. He was a key figure in the Southeast Saskatchewan Hereford association and was instrumental in making it one of the better association sales each year. Howard made sure each of us girls had the opportunity to be part of the local 4H beef club. Made sure we had horses to ride and we participated in the farm chores. I’m sure his hope was one of us would take to farming. He passed away Aug11/66 from a massive heart attack at age 58.
Howard loved Redvers and actively stayed involved to make it a better place to visit and live. He was a great community man and was noted for his organizational skills and sincere desire to serve Redvers. At the time of his death, he was a sub unit trustee for the school unit, chairman of the recreational committee, and vice president of the agricultural society. He counted both Chris Sutter and Jim Lewthwaite among his good friends.
Keith Gilmore, editor1966 ,Canadian Hereford Digest wrote “all who knew
W.J.H {Howard} Wright, counted him a friend. It was always a pleasure to drive in the Prairie Haven Stock farm entrance at the north side of the town of Redvers, because a warm welcome always waited.”