Mr. Judge Wright: One of the Most Iconic Figures in Alabama State University History
- Donald V. Watkins
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
By: Donald V. Watkins
Copyrighted and Published on February 25, 2026
BLACK HISTORY MONTH EXCLUSIVE ---
Mr. Judge Wright worked at Alabama State College (now Alabama State University) as a personal driver, invaluable aide, and confidante to longtime ASC Presidents H. Council Trenholm and Levi Watkins. Mr. Wright witnessed the many trials, tribulations, and triumphs of both presidents, as he drove them around the country in the 1930s, 40s, 50s, and 60s raising funds for ASC, getting the college accredited and reaccredited, and recruiting students and faculty to the college.
Mr. Wright drove Dr. Trenholm to all of the meetings that were required for ASC to secure its initial accreditation in 1935 from the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools (SACS) in Atlanta.
Mr. Wright was with Dr. Trenholm in 1960 when Alabama Gov. John Patterson made the Alabama State Board of Education fire Trenholm, ban him from the ASC campus, expel student demonstrators, and drastically cut ASC's budget -- all in retaliation for ASC students participating in civil rights sit-ins at the Montgomery County courthouse. As a result of Patterson's hardcore racism and vicious retaliation, ASC lost its SACS accreditation.
Mr. Wright stood by Dr. Trenholm for more than thirty-five years, beginning in 1925. He was an honorary pallbearer at Dr. Trenholm's funeral in 1963.
In 1962, Mr. Wright became my father’s personal driver, aide, and confidante after dad succeeded Dr. Trenholm as ASC's president. Mr. Wright was a Godsend for dad.
Mr. Wright served as an important bridge from the Trenholm administration to the Watkins administration. Mr. Wright was an iconic figure because he possessed a body of institutional knowledge dating back to 1925 that no one else had.
My dad trusted Mr. Wright implicitly and valued his common sense, institutional knowledge, and sound judgment. Above all, dad appreciated Mr. Wright's dedication to and love for ASC.
From 1962 to 1966, Judge Wright drove dad all over Alabama and throughout the southeast on their joint mission to beef up student enrollment, secure private funding for ASC, recruit faculty members, reactivate alumni chapters, and regain the college's SACS accreditation.
The Memorable Atlanta Trip
In 1963, I accompanied Mr. Wright, dad, the academic vice-president, and the college's business manager to a SACS accreditation meeting in Atlanta. At the time, I was a high school student intern in the president’s office.
Mr. Wright drove us, while my father sat in the front passenger’s seat reading documents. I sat on the back seat talking to the vice president and business manager.
We arrived in Atlanta around noon. My father suggested that we get lunch before our 2 p.m. meeting with SACS.
We drove to Paschals restaurant near Morehouse College. This was an upscale Black-owned restaurant for Black patrons in segregated Atlanta prior to passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
As we exited the car, Mr. Wright stayed behind. He was the only one of us who was not dressed in a business suit. He wore a pair of light brown khaki pants and a matching work shirt. Mr. Wright told us to go ahead and eat without him.
My dad insisted that Mr. Wright join us for lunch. He suspected that Mr. Wright was uncomfortable because he was not wearing a business suit. Mr. Wright relented and came into the restaurant with us.
As we were led to our table, dad made sure Mr. Wright walked directly behind him. Once we arrived at the table, dad pulled out the chair to his right and directed Mr. Wright to sit next to him. I sat across the table between the other two men.
When the waiter brought us menus, I noticed that Mr. Wright was not reading his menu. I watched dad lean over and review his menu with Mr. Wright. He talked to Mr. Wright about each item on the menu and made it a conversation between them. Then, dad told Mr. Wright he would order for him, which he did. I later learned that Mr. Wright’s reading ability was rather limited, although his reservoir of knowledge was vast and deep.
Over the course of lunch, dad talked louder than normal. Within earshot of the uppity patrons who were looking weird because Mr. Wright was not wearing a suit, dad started bragging about Mr. Wright’s (a) many invaluable contributions to Dr. Trenholm, ASC, and his presidency, (b) Mr. Wright's role in growing ASC student enrollment, (c) his meaningful efforts to securing ASC's initial accreditation, and (d) his decades of tireless service to the college.
Dad toasted Mr. Wright and treated him like he was a guest of honor. It was a command performance, albeit a very deserving and sincere one. Patron at the surrounding tables began to think it was an important celebratory event.
By now, Mr. Wright was not only comfortable and relaxed, but he was also pleased by the very public display of presidential recognition and respect.
We left Paschals and went to the SACS meeting. After the meeting, we returned home to Montgomery.
Valuable Lessons Learned from the Atlanta Trip
After we entered our home, dad sat me down and explained five things to me that I have practiced religiously throughout my adult life:
Whenever a member of your team feels out of place because of his/her attire or because he/she can’t read or write, it is your job as a leader to make the place ready for him/her.
An employee’s work uniform does not determine his/her value to the organization. His/her work ethic and contributions to achieving the organization's goals are the things that matter the most to a leader.
A leader must publicly acknowledge and appreciate the value of the least-thanked employee(s) every chance he/she gets. They will become the most dedicated and loyal employees in your workforce.
Elevate the “least of these, my brethren” every way you can.
Every member of your team deserves to be treated with dignity and the utmost respect, and it is your job as a leader to show the world the proper amount of respect they deserve.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Mr. Judge Wright, dad, and ASC's faculty and staff, the college regained its full SACS accreditation in 1966. Governor George Wallace celebrated this historic event by proclaiming December 15, 1966, "Alabama State College Day."
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