House 1927-34 (District 30); Senate 1935-54 (District 30); Senate 1955-62 (District 30); Senate 1963-70 (District 38)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Counties Served: Hennepin
University of Minnesota; Attended College; 1912Northwestern College of Law, Minneapolis; Law Degree; 1918
Spouse: Virna A. Wood (she was a Secretary for the Minnesota House of Representatives, she died on June 19, 1986) Children: Two children: Donald Orr Jr. (preceded his dad in death) and Charles W. (sons) Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature: Fred Beriah Wright - Father
He is an active Republican and a member of the state party's delegation to the GOP national convention in 1940." (Typewritten Profile, Source Unknown, 1957?)"Wright, a Minneapolis Conservative..." ("Roy E. Dunn and Donald O. Wright." Star Tribune, July 28, 1985)"...once describing a governor from his own Republican party as 'wooden-headed'..." ("Donald O. Wright" Star Tribune, July 26, 1985)Senator Donald O. Wright was sworn in as Lt. Governor on September 3, 1954 following Lt. Governor Ancher Nelsen's resignation on May 1, 1953 to become the head of the U.S. Rural Electrification Administration. He served until January 3, 1955. From the time Sen. Wright was sworn in as lieutenant governor, the Senate never met in session. Governor Orville Freeman and Lt. Governor Karl Rolvaag were elected to their respective offices in the 1954 election and took office in January 1955. Sen. Wright ran for and won re-election to his senate seat in the 1954 election, taking office again as a state senator in January 1955.At one time, the record for the greatest number of years served overall for the Minnesota Legislature (both House and Senate service) was held by Carl M. Iverson, and Anton J. Rockne at 44 years of service. Donald O. Wright's length of service would have been tied with them if his four month service as Lieutenant Governor in late 1954 was counted as legislative service.The record for number of years served in the Minnesota Senate is held by Anton J. Rockne at 36 years of service. Donald O. Wright's length of Senate service would be tied with him if his four month service as Lieutenant Governor in late 1954 was counted as legislative service.He was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.He died at the St. Louis Park Plaza Nursing Home in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. His funeral was held at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Religion provided by his obituary.