Harold Lee Wright, best known by his nickname “Looter,” was born on Jan. 24, 1933, in Ben Wheeler, on Route 1 at his family’s homestead. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 30, 2022, at the age of 89, or what he called “plenty-nine.” Looter’s sense of humor and his appreciation for a good story will be missed.

Looter Wright grew up in Van, and attended Van High School where he graduated in 1951 as part of Van’s first class to attend school for a 12-year curriculum. He was actively involved in Van High School sports and played both quarterback and defensive back on the Vandal football team. He was also one of the few Vandals to qualify for State UIL Pole Vaulting.

Following high school graduation, Looter served briefly in the U.S. Military from 1953 to 1955, and was stationed in Guam and Taegu, Korea during the Korean War. Upon his return to Texas, he attended classes at Tyler Junior College and Southern Methodist University.

In 1956, Looter married Dorothy Dene Howell, who was also born and raised in Van. They celebrated their 65 ^th wedding anniversary on June 9, 2021.

Looter’s professional career in the Texas oil business started during the late 1950s at Pure Oil Company in Van. He then joined Hunt Oil Company in Dallas in 1960, where he worked for 35 years until his retirement. He held various positions at Hunt, including Manager of Crude Oil Transportation, Vice President of Supply & Transportation, Vice President of Hunt Refinery in Alabama, Executive Vice President and Director of Portal Pipeline in North Dakota, and President and Director of Mobile, Alabama’s Marine Terminal. He traveled extensively, both nationally and internationally, as his roles involved crude oil supply and transportation in the U.S. as well as the North Sea, England, Scotland, Yemen, Mexico, and Venezuela.

After retiring in 1995, Looter made frequent trips from Dallas to Van to work alongside his father-in-law, Russell Howell, and brothers-in-law, R.A. Howell and Don Vickery, on the Howell family farm. Looter and Dorothy eventually returned to their hometown of Van fulltime and became actively involved in school, church, and civil service. Both were directors of the Van ISD Education Foundation, and Looter served two years as its President. In 2012, Looter and Dorothy were honored by the Van Education Foundation as Distinguished Alumni. Looter was a member of the Van United Methodist Church, where he attended services and participated in fundraising efforts. He served for two and a half years on Van’s Economic Development Board and served as President of the Van Planning and Zoning Committee. Looter was also a longtime member of the Colefax #904 Masonic Lodge.

Looter is survived by his devoted wife, Dorothy Dene Howell Wright; their son, Kirk Alden Wright of Ben Wheeler, his daughter, Hayla, and her son, Ryker; their daughter, Dena Wright Prasher of Houston and her daughters, Morgan and Avery Claire. Looter is also survived by his son, Bruce White of Frisco, his wife, Julie, their son, Chris White, wife Jocelyn and children Ella and Ethan; their daughter, Ashley Boylan, husband Shawn and son Cole; and their daughter, Kaitlyn White.

Looter is preceded in death by his parents, Eunice and Fred Wright, and his brother, James “Buck” Wright.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 9, 2022, at Union Chapel Cemetery, right outside of Van, Texas, 20117 Hwy 110 S, Lindale, TX 75771. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in his memory be directed to the Van ISD Education Foundation, vanisdfoundation.com.