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mostly his own children but these days his grandchildren are often the sidekicks. Bill appreciates his good fortune of having a lifestyle and business that allowed him to take his family with him to work, not just send them out to work. He attributes a portion of their success to this lifestyle.

Physical and emotional commitments were not the only forms of support Bill gives his boys. He helped them finan-cially; taking his father’s advice he put his money where his mouth was. The boys were given the opportunity to work to earn the money they needed. Things were not just handed to them. They were expected to pay their own entry fees. They knew they were loved but not spoiled.

Shawn Davis, director and general manager of NRPRA, has worked personally with almost all of the Wright broth-ers at his Rodeo school and other associations. Shawn has personal expressed to Bill his admiration of the work ethic passed down to them. Bill and Evelyn have taught their kids the importance of observing what needed to be done and then doing it without being told. Their children are self-motivated and want to complete their work, sometimes to an excess. Their mom Evelynn laughs about an time when her son Calvin would work to the point that his coworkers had to kick the latter out from under him so he would stop and eat lunch.

This legacy of being a hard work is not just limited to the saddle bronco champs; the entire Bill and Evelynn Wright family has a reputation for being extremely hard workers. Evelynn say’s “I would rather have a stupid kid than a lazy one any day. A person can learn if they are not lazy.” Bill will confirm that a great deal of the family’s success comes from the companionship of his dedicated wife and mother

WrightBill Wright

Wright Family Values Run Deep

It is no secret that Rodeo Life is rigorous and requires a great deal of hard work and perseverance. Bill Wright, the father of the Utah’s saddle bronc riding Wright broth-ers, says “You get out of things just about what you put into them. Put in big effort and get big rewards.” Bill and Evelyn Wright have followed this old family adage to the full extend with their family of thirteen. They claim that the secret to their success is working right alongside each child until they have gained the confidence and skill to be able to succeed. Sticking to it, seeing it through to the end, and finishing what you started are just a few of the old family phrases you might hear kicking around in their home.

Bill is a family man. Calvin Spendlove Wright, Bills fa-ther, used to say, “your family is the best investment you’ll ever make.” Bill believes this value and puts it into action. His sisters, Sheila, Calleen, and Roxie acknowledge with pride that Bill and Evelynn have encapsulated a family cul-ture and carried on a host of family values passed down through the generations. “It pleases us to see their family put into practice a western family culture of unity, love, support, and hard work that we so fondly remember in our own home.”

According to Bill’s sister Calleen, Bill’s dad took him with him wherever he went and taught him to work at a young age. Bill has followed this same family pattern with his chil-dren; he takes them and teaches them. He doesn’t tell them they can’t accomplish something but allows them to try. He has high expectations for his children and believes they can achieve them. He just kept providing them with opportu-nities and helped them until they succeeded. Bill has been known to always have a “sidekick” with him;; it used to be

mostly his own children but these days his grandchildren are often the sidekicks. Bill appreciates his good fortune of having a lifestyle and business that allowed him to take his family with him to work, not just send them out to work. He attributes a portion of their success to this lifestyle.

Physical and emotional commitments were not the only forms of support Bill gives his boys. He helped them finan-cially; taking his father’s advice he put his money where his mouth was. The boys were given the opportunity to work to earn the money they needed. Things were not just handed to them. They were expected to pay their own entry fees. They knew they were loved but not spoiled.

Shawn Davis, director and general manager of NRPRA, has worked personally with almost all of the Wright broth-ers at his Rodeo school and other associations. Shawn has personal expressed to Bill his admiration of the work ethic passed down to them. Bill and Evelyn have taught their kids the importance of observing what needed to be done and then doing it without being told. Their children are self-motivated and want to complete their work, sometimes to an excess. Their mom Evelynn laughs about an time when her son Calvin would work to the point that his coworkers had to kick the latter out from under him so he would stop and eat lunch.

This legacy of being a hard work is not just limited to the saddle bronco champs; the entire Bill and Evelynn Wright family has a reputation for being extremely hard workers. Evelynn say’s “I would rather have a stupid kid than a lazy one any day. A person can learn if they are not lazy.” Bill will confirm that a great deal of the family’s success comes from the companionship of his dedicated wife and mother

It is no secret that Rodeo Life is rigorous and requires a great deal of hard work and perseverance. Bill Wright, the father of the Utah’s saddle bronc riding Wright broth-ers, says “You get out of things just about what you put into them. Put in big effort and get big rewards.” Bill and Evelyn Wright have followed this old family adage to the full extend with their family of thirteen. They claim that the secret to their success is working right alongside each child until they have gained the confidence and skill to be able to succeed. Sticking to it, seeing it through to the end, and finishing what you started are just a few of the old family phrases you might hear kicking around in their home.

Bill is a family man. Calvin Spendlove Wright, Bills fa-ther, used to say, “your family is the best investment you’ll ever make.” Bill believes this value and puts it into action. His sisters, Sheila, Calleen, and Roxie acknowledge with pride that Bill and Evelynn have encapsulated a family cul-ture and carried on a host of family values passed down through the generations. “It pleases us to see their family put into practice a western family culture of unity, love, support, and hard work that we so fondly remember in our own home.”

According to Bill’s sister Calleen, Bill’s dad took him with him wherever he went and taught him to work at a young age. Bill has followed this same family pattern with his chil-dren; he takes them and teaches them. He doesn’t tell them they can’t accomplish something but allows them to try. He has high expectations for his children and believes they can achieve them. He just kept providing them with opportu-nities and helped them until they succeeded. Bill has been known to always have a “sidekick” with him;; it used to be

Rodeo Athletes Magazine | Summer 2014 11

of his children, Evelyn. Evelyn relates that Bill always sup-ported her desire of being in the home to raise and teach the children. Bill say’s Evelyn was really good to come up with rewards after they had accomplished their responsibilities. She might take a picture of a job well done, plan a family outing, or help them make or obtain some desired item.

Another Key to the family success is their developed sup-port system. Bill and Evelynn have given each of their chil-dren support and in turn they are a family that is there for each other. Evelyn says, “they relish in each other’s accom-plishments, they are each other’s greatest cheer leaders.” The real competition lies with the ability to do their person-al best. Coming from a big family they learned to serve each other. Evelyn related that, “they look out for each other. If one has a problem they rally together and take the time to help the one struggling till he’s on his feet again.” Stew-art, the youngest Wright, was near completion of his Eagle Scout project when the other boys recognized the value of this accomplishment and volunteered their help to finish the project. This kind of support is the basis for the way they treat others. Even though the Wright brothers take wining seriously, they have been taught that winning isn’t every-thing. The old family attitude that you can’t win every time, somebody has to lose, has also contributed to another level of success even when they are not winning.

Bill and Evelyn agree with the philosophy of Zona Ruesch Wright, Bill’s mother, that, “there are only two kinds of people in this world, those you love and those you don’t know yet.” This kind of value dictates attitude and is its own natural reward.

Wright

Rodeo Athletes Magazine | Summer 2014 11

of his children, Evelyn. Evelyn relates that Bill always sup-ported her desire of being in the home to raise and teach the children. Bill say’s Evelyn was really good to come up with rewards after they had accomplished their responsibilities. She might take a picture of a job well done, plan a family outing, or help them make or obtain some desired item.

Another Key to the family success is their developed sup-port system. Bill and Evelynn have given each of their chil-dren support and in turn they are a family that is there for each other. Evelyn says, “they relish in each other’s accom-plishments, they are each other’s greatest cheer leaders.” The real competition lies with the ability to do their person-al best. Coming from a big family they learned to serve each other. Evelyn related that, “they look out for each other. If one has a problem they rally together and take the time to help the one struggling till he’s on his feet again.” Stew-art, the youngest Wright, was near completion of his Eagle Scout project when the other boys recognized the value of this accomplishment and volunteered their help to finish the project. This kind of support is the basis for the way they treat others. Even though the Wright brothers take wining seriously, they have been taught that winning isn’t every-thing. The old family attitude that you can’t win every time, somebody has to lose, has also contributed to another level of success even when they are not winning.

Bill and Evelyn agree with the philosophy of Zona Ruesch Wright, Bill’s mother, that, “there are only two kinds of people in this world, those you love and those you don’t know yet.” This kind of value dictates attitude and is its own natural reward.