Completed Event: Track and Field at TCU Alumni Invitational on March 21, 2025 ,
Final
Track and Field
at TCU Alumni Invitational
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Saluting a Sooner and American Hero
November 12, 2009 | Track and Field
Sooner born, Sooner bred and when I die...
David Wright understood the meaning of those words before he ever slipped on an OU track and field uniform.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. I am an American soldier.
David Wright believed in those words from The Soldier's Creed before he took his oath and put on the uniform of the United States Army.
This is the story of a Sooner hurdler and an American soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice. This is the story of a true hero who we remember as we pause to honor veterans this week. This is a story that makes the observance of Veterans' Day something very real for the Sooner family and not just faded stories from wars past.
Wright and a member of his platoon were killed on Sept. 14 when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device in southern Afghanistan. Wright was deployed with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash. He was the first former OU student-athlete to be killed in active duty service in either Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Natural Born Leader
Anita Clark knew Wright long before he joined the OU track and field team. She knew him as Timmy Wright, the little boy who lived next door to her.
"He was always outside playing, always running around and being very active," Clark added. "And he loved to jump off things." One day, the young Wright jumped off Clark's SUV. The landing sent him to the hospital emergency room for repairs, a moment that would cause her to laugh years later.
Fast forward to the fall of 2002. A young man is standing in Clark's office door with his scholarship athlete forms. As she begins to enter the information, she notices his parents' names and, a few questions later, learns that Timmy is now going by David and he has signed a letter of intent to compete at OU.
"And I wasn't surprised at all that he was going to be one of our hurdlers," Clark laughed at the memory. "David was such a hard worker and he never complained. He knew what he wanted and he was willing to do what it took to reach that goal. It didn't surprise me that he enlisted in the Army after graduation. He had that mentality, that dedication, he was that focused."
Jill Lancaster and Rodney Price were the co-head coaches who recruited Wright to join the Sooner program. They, too, knew they had someone special when the Moore hurdler signed.
"I took great pride in identifying Oklahoma athletes to represent the University of Oklahoma," Lancaster explained. "David wore his heart and commitment on his sleeve. He took great pride in himself and all of his endeavors.
"His upbringing provided a unique understanding of the importance of service and commitment to a better society," Lancaster added. "His ability to lead with actions and words made him a born leader in our program. No doubt, his skills and personality would translate into a wonderful U.S. Army officer. David represented his family, the state of Oklahoma, the University of Oklahoma and our nation at the highest level."
It was Wright's competitive drive that caught Price's attention. "The first time I saw David run was at an indoor meet in Norman. I saw his competitive drive and saw that he was not intimidated by the height of the hurdles. The respect and attention he showed his high school coach stood out to me. He also supported and interacted with all of his teammates.
"I'm not surprised that David became a respected leader in the Army," Price continued. "He would always do the right thing. He got along with everyone and always took care of business. He was such a very special student-athlete."
Desire to Serve
Dax Thomas, a former teammate and roommate of Wright, knew his friend had the special qualities of leadership that the Army looks for in its officers. Thomas had enlisted in February of 2000 and came to OU in 2004 to compete in track and become part of the ROTC program. Thomas graduated in May 2006 and received his commission. Seven months later, Wright had graduated and turned to his friend for advice.
"I had come home to visit for the holidays and David and I went out Christmas shopping," Thomas recalled. "He told me about wanting to become an Army officer - it was something we had talked about a lot - so we went straight to the recruiter's office so that David could talk to him.
"David had all the qualities that a leader, an Army officer, has to have. He had the qualities that the Army preaches to its officers - selfless service, loyalty, duty, respect," Thomas added. "This was something he had wanted to do and it didn't matter if he had to do it the long way or not - he was committed to serving his country in the Army."
Wright completed Basic Training and Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. He was named Soldier of the Cycle during Basic and given the right to lead the graduates in reciting The Soldier's Creed, an honor reserved for the top graduate of Basic Training.
Another former teammate and roommate, Andrew Crabbe, knew that Wright would eventually join the Army because it was no secret that Wright had a strong desire to do that.
"With David, you knew if he wanted to do something, he would find a way to do it," said Crabbe, who is doing his general surgery residency in Chicago. "He wanted to serve his country and we all knew that, because of what he was going to be doing, this was a possibility. I just didn't believe it when we got the news.
"The route to Army officer wasn't easy for David but he did it the way it should be done. The route got him to where he needed, where he wanted to be. It was a means to an end and he knew that going through hard times would make him stronger. I've lost a very good friend and teammate. He is someone I will always remember."
A Lasting Legacy
Clark saw the impact that Wright's death had on today's Sooner student-athletes. "When our student-athletes see the photos of David in his track uniform, they realize that one of their own has made the ultimate sacrifice. Those kinds of sacrifices become paramount when you know someone who has made them.
"It's made all of us have a deeper appreciation for all of the sacrifices that the military and their families make. It helps our athletes understand that the commitment the military has to their mission is what gives all of us the freedom to do what we do on a daily basis."
To all the David Wrights in this world, thank you for believing in something so much greater than yourselves and thank you for all of your sacrifices that help make life better for people all over the world.
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Feature by Debbie Copp | OU Athletics Media Relations
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| David T. Wright II |
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. I am an American soldier.
David Wright believed in those words from The Soldier's Creed before he took his oath and put on the uniform of the United States Army.
This is the story of a Sooner hurdler and an American soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice. This is the story of a true hero who we remember as we pause to honor veterans this week. This is a story that makes the observance of Veterans' Day something very real for the Sooner family and not just faded stories from wars past.
Wright and a member of his platoon were killed on Sept. 14 when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device in southern Afghanistan. Wright was deployed with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash. He was the first former OU student-athlete to be killed in active duty service in either Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
| David T. Wright II Memorial Scholarship Fund |
Natural Born Leader
Anita Clark knew Wright long before he joined the OU track and field team. She knew him as Timmy Wright, the little boy who lived next door to her.
"He was always outside playing, always running around and being very active," Clark added. "And he loved to jump off things." One day, the young Wright jumped off Clark's SUV. The landing sent him to the hospital emergency room for repairs, a moment that would cause her to laugh years later.
Fast forward to the fall of 2002. A young man is standing in Clark's office door with his scholarship athlete forms. As she begins to enter the information, she notices his parents' names and, a few questions later, learns that Timmy is now going by David and he has signed a letter of intent to compete at OU.
"And I wasn't surprised at all that he was going to be one of our hurdlers," Clark laughed at the memory. "David was such a hard worker and he never complained. He knew what he wanted and he was willing to do what it took to reach that goal. It didn't surprise me that he enlisted in the Army after graduation. He had that mentality, that dedication, he was that focused."
 |
|
"I took great pride in identifying Oklahoma athletes to represent the University of Oklahoma," Lancaster explained. "David wore his heart and commitment on his sleeve. He took great pride in himself and all of his endeavors.
"His upbringing provided a unique understanding of the importance of service and commitment to a better society," Lancaster added. "His ability to lead with actions and words made him a born leader in our program. No doubt, his skills and personality would translate into a wonderful U.S. Army officer. David represented his family, the state of Oklahoma, the University of Oklahoma and our nation at the highest level."
It was Wright's competitive drive that caught Price's attention. "The first time I saw David run was at an indoor meet in Norman. I saw his competitive drive and saw that he was not intimidated by the height of the hurdles. The respect and attention he showed his high school coach stood out to me. He also supported and interacted with all of his teammates.
"I'm not surprised that David became a respected leader in the Army," Price continued. "He would always do the right thing. He got along with everyone and always took care of business. He was such a very special student-athlete."
Desire to Serve
Dax Thomas, a former teammate and roommate of Wright, knew his friend had the special qualities of leadership that the Army looks for in its officers. Thomas had enlisted in February of 2000 and came to OU in 2004 to compete in track and become part of the ROTC program. Thomas graduated in May 2006 and received his commission. Seven months later, Wright had graduated and turned to his friend for advice.
"I had come home to visit for the holidays and David and I went out Christmas shopping," Thomas recalled. "He told me about wanting to become an Army officer - it was something we had talked about a lot - so we went straight to the recruiter's office so that David could talk to him.
 |
|
Wright completed Basic Training and Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. He was named Soldier of the Cycle during Basic and given the right to lead the graduates in reciting The Soldier's Creed, an honor reserved for the top graduate of Basic Training.
Another former teammate and roommate, Andrew Crabbe, knew that Wright would eventually join the Army because it was no secret that Wright had a strong desire to do that.
"With David, you knew if he wanted to do something, he would find a way to do it," said Crabbe, who is doing his general surgery residency in Chicago. "He wanted to serve his country and we all knew that, because of what he was going to be doing, this was a possibility. I just didn't believe it when we got the news.
"The route to Army officer wasn't easy for David but he did it the way it should be done. The route got him to where he needed, where he wanted to be. It was a means to an end and he knew that going through hard times would make him stronger. I've lost a very good friend and teammate. He is someone I will always remember."
A Lasting Legacy
Clark saw the impact that Wright's death had on today's Sooner student-athletes. "When our student-athletes see the photos of David in his track uniform, they realize that one of their own has made the ultimate sacrifice. Those kinds of sacrifices become paramount when you know someone who has made them.
"It's made all of us have a deeper appreciation for all of the sacrifices that the military and their families make. It helps our athletes understand that the commitment the military has to their mission is what gives all of us the freedom to do what we do on a daily basis."
To all the David Wrights in this world, thank you for believing in something so much greater than yourselves and thank you for all of your sacrifices that help make life better for people all over the world.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Feature by Debbie Copp | OU Athletics Media Relations
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