C. Lamar and Ann Wright, at DSC in 2017
The C. Lamar and Ann Wright School of Business (WSOB) is named in honor of our generous donors C. (Clifford) Lamar and Ann Wright.
In 2016, the Wrights longtime commitment to the Northwest Georgia community was expanded through their generous gift of $5 million to the Dalton State College Foundation. Matched by the Georgia Board of Regents, these funds were used to completely expand and renovate Gignilliat Hall, providing a state-of-the-art facility for business education in Northwest Georgia. With the naming of the school for the Wrights, the C. Lamar and Ann Wright School of Business (WSOB) is fulfilling its unique educational mission which is predicated on providing excellence in undergraduate business education. In 2020, the Wrights received the University System of Georgia (USG) Foundation Regents’ Hall of Fame Alumni and Distinguished Friends Award.
Lamar Wright grew up in Cedartown, Georgia and, after graduation from Cedartown High School, attended Southern Business University. Lamar moved to Dalton in 1965 where he began his career working for Strain Poultry Farms and Cagle’s, Inc.
Lamar has had many firsts. Lamar was the first in his family to attend college. Lamar was a member of the first freshman class at Dalton Junior College in 1967. Lamar Wright is a graduate of Dalton Junior College’s first graduating class of 1969. Lamar earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Georgia.
As his career advanced Lamar Wright became owner and president of Apollo Textiles and Telstar Enterprises, Inc. His business interests have expanded to include agriculture, banking, and real estate development. He currently owns and operates Appalachian Properties LLC.
Lamar’s community and civic involvement includes serving on the Boards of the Dalton Education Foundation, the Dalton State College Foundation, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Looper Speech and Hearing Clinic, Georgia Sheriff’s Association, Cherokee Estates, and the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce. Lamar has served as Chairman of the Dalton Whitfield Hospital Authority, Trustee of the Dalton Whitfield Healthcare Foundation, and member of the Alliant HealthCare board. Lamar has held memberships in many civic organizations and school-related groups.
Ann Williams Wright was born in Aragon, Georgia and grew up in Polk County, Georgia. When Ann was 11, she attended 4-H camp in Dahlonega, Georgia, where she met the 13-year-old Lamar Wright from nearby Cedartown, Georgia. Ann graduated from Rockmart High School in 1959 and earned her bachelor’s degree in home economics education at the University of Georgia in 1962. She completed a master’s degree in textiles from UGA in 1965. Ann is a second-generation college graduate.
Ann and Lamar Wright were married on December 10, 1965, and the Wrights moved to Dalton that same year. Ann worked in Catoosa County as Home Economist with the Georgia Cooperative Extension Service until 1970, then taught home economics at Eastbrook High School in Dalton from 1970 to 1975.
Following her years in the classroom, Ann was involved in various school PTAs and served as den mother for both her sons’ Cub Scout troops. She later taught in the Continuing Education program at Dalton Junior College, Lamar’s alma mater. Ann served on the boards of Georgia Boys Group Home, Hamilton Healthcare Foundation, and United Way of Northwest Georgia.
Sadly, Ann passed away on October 2, 2019 at the age of 77.
Lamar and Ann’s family includes son, Kevin (daughter-in-law Aquila and sons Jackson and Will) of Dalton, Georgia and son Bucky (daughter-in-law Christy and their twins Davis and Alexis and daughter Annaleigh) of Marietta, Georgia.
The WSOB reflects the entrepreneurial spirit of the Northwest Georgia community. As an entrepreneur, Lamar believed the following quotes led to his success in business. You will find these quotes throughout the WSOB where they serve as inspiration for today’s WSOB students – our future business leaders.
- “Do the right thing always.” – C. Lamar Wright
- “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” – Warren Buffett
- “The cost of being wrong is less than the cost of doing nothing.” – Seth Godin
- “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” – Colin Powell
- “A leader is the one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” – John Maxwell
- “Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” –Steve Jobs
- “Do not underestimate the power in the magic of compounding!” – C. Lamar Wright
- “Today I will do what others won’t so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can’t.” – Jerry Rice
- “Don’t aspire to be the best on the team – aspire to be the best for the team.” – Unknown
- “Do right. Do your best. Treat others as you want to be treated.” – Lou Holtz
- “The stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient.” –Warren Buffett
WSOB Dean, Dr. Marilyn Helms, C. Lamar and Ann Wright
(Thursday, November 16, 2017 during Ground
Breaking for the renovation and expansion of Gignilliat Hall)
Lamar’s favorite saying is “we are changing lives at Dalton State.” Lamar credits DSC for changing his life.
Ann’s favorite saying is “Education – the Great Equalizer.”
WSOB students, faculty and the greater DSC campus and community know Lamar and Ann’s gift will continue to change our lives.
