Building in Peoria named after local agricultural giant
Wright dedicated more than 40 years to Peoria High School community
Submitted photo
Lyle Wright (left) was the first honorary Peoria High School alumni in 1994. The Peoria High School Agriscience and Industrial Technology Building will be named after him.
A building at the Peoria High School campus will be named after a giant in the community.
The governing board unanimously approved the naming of Peoria High School Agriscience and Industrial Technology Building in memory of Lyle Wright, teacher and volunteer with 40 years of service to the students and staff of Peoria High School.
Dozens gathered for the approval at a district public meeting, Oct. 26.
“It is often said across the ag teacher profession that Mr. Wright trained more teachers in agriculture mechanics than the University of Arizona,” said former Peoria agriculture teacher and CTE Director John Mulcahy.
Wright’s service to the community began four decades ago, and over the years he has collected numerous recognitions, including a National Future Farmers of America degree, the highest honor one can receive in the field. In 1994 he was named the first honorary alumni in Peoria High School history.
Affectionately called Grandpa Wright, he had a profound impact on the students he supported as a role model and mentor.
Wright was a master welder, a seamster, and over the course of his life built four houses, which some family members still live in.
He even helped the build Palo Verde Power Plant, which generates power for millions of people across the American Southwest.
Wright volunteered with the Peoria Future Farmers of America program as a shop teacher and many other capacities for more than 30 years.
Kevin Norris, Peoria High School agriculture teacher, said that without Wright’s guidance and influence, he would not be the man or the agricultural educator he is today.
There is no finer example of panther pride than Lyle Wright, and there is no better way to memorialize him than naming the Agriscience and Industrial Technology Building after him.
“The meaning of life is service to others and there is no one I have ever met who has done more service to more people than Mr. Lyle Wright,” Norris said. "If you’ve seen a structure made of metal in our district, you’ve seen Wright’s work. He has prepared and built things all across our campus. If you have seen a kid show an animal at the Maricopa County Fair or at the Arizona State Fair, you are seeing the influences of Mr. Wright. ... and he gave tirelessly of himself to assist all the folks we have with us here this evening and hundreds more.”
Peoria Unified policy states that in naming facilities, the district will consider names derived from significant geographic locations, historical events, persons, or events of community significance for example.
Names of living persons may not be used, according to policy.
Wright passed away Aug. 26, at the age of 86.
Policy states the governing board has "approval of a memorial in honor of persons who have special significance to the students, the school district or the community," and requests to establish a memorial should be submitted to the superintendent with information concerning the purpose of the memorial.
PUSD spokeswoman Danielle Airey said Norris recently collected letters of support to rename the agriculture building and submitted the request to the superintendent.
She added that the request aligns with district policy, and that Peoria High School administration, site council, Future Farmers of America alumni, and community members recommended the renaming, Airey said.
“I don’t think there's much more I can convey that this is something that is supported by all those from the Peoria High School community,” she said.
PUSD President David Sandoval concurred with the renaming of the building.
“When you look at the lives he has impacted in this room, I just can’t imagine 40 years and the thousands of lives this individual has changed. It’s just amazing,” Sandoval said. “When we talk about Peoria pride, I can’t think of a better individual to honor by naming this building after him.”
Philip Haldiman can be reached at phaldiman@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman. We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Philip Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.
Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater.
Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.
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