Frank Wright was a Salt Lake City resident but loved Las Vegas History. Wright moved to Vegas and lived there for about 35 years, and in that time he became a champion of preservation and a great keeper of the town's history. He wrote units on local history for schoolchildren, pamphlets for the museum and sat on a number of historical and preservation boards and commissions, including the board of directors for the Neon Museum downtown and the Las Vegas Springs Preserve. Wright recently retired from his longtime research post at the Nevada Museum & Historical Society.

"He used to fantasize of being a Las Vegas native, he grew to love it so much." - Dorothy Wright, Frank's wife

He was passionate about learning every detail of the city's past, preserving its history, sharing the tales of triumph and tribulation, and debunking some of the myths that grew from the mafia's involvement in shaping the city.

"What bothered Frank was that so many people thought there was nothing here before Bugsy Siegel." - Dorthy Wright

Wright constantly wanted to tell the untold story of the gambling houses and shady characters that were here as early as the 1930s.

"Frank was a crusader for knowing and saving our past. He became the person members of the media called to check on anything about Las Vegas history. For more than a decade, if you tuned in to KNPR radio, you'd hear vignettes of Las Vegas history that he wrote. He was interviewed for hundreds of documentaries and news stories. There were a number of people who didn't want to talk because they dealt with shady characters. Frank could get people to open up to him." - Michael Green, Professor of History, Community College of Southern Nevada.

Wright was the best sort of local historian: knowledgeable about the past, interested in exploring and able to communicate his enthusiasm to the public. He remained available even in retirement for people with history queries. He fielded the gamut of queries, from politicians and scholars to schoolchildren and budding novelists.

"He would thoroughly research people's connection to the town or family history. I don't think I ever saw him lose his temper in 20 years. He wanted to get to the truth of Las Vegas history, warts and all. He wanted it to be accurate, not a myth or misconception. He paid a lot of attention to the small things of history, getting names and addresses right. A lot of people were grateful for that." - David Millman, Curator of the Nevada State Museum

The Review-Journal in 2002 named him the newspaper's favorite male Las Vegan in its Best of Las Vegas staff poll.

Wright died at the age of 64 of cancer on April 25, 2003. He is survived by his wife, step-son Christopher Ritenour of Las Vegas, brother Robert Wright of Salt Lake City and four grandchildren. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Neon Museum, 821 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Las Vegas, NV 89101.

"When this site was just a few pages, I had met Howard Klein during one of my visits to Vegas and he took me to meet Frank at the Nevada State Museum. At that time, as well as in the present, I have had a hard time gathering information because I don't "live" in Vegas and therefore have been ignored by quite a few people. I've had reporters from the Las Vegas Review Journal and Las Vegas Sun contact me for interviews and when they find out I'm from California, they quickly pretend that don't know about me or this site. Interestingly, most of these people aren't from Vegas either but because they "moved" there, they are, I guess, an original (at least in their own minds). Of course I was nervous about meeting Frank as I figured once he found out I was from California, he would not be as warm. Howard ignored my concerns and off we went. I got to the Nevada State Museum, met Frank and he didn't care where I was from. He showed me some of the indexing processes as well as other items and then we all went outside where he answered all my questions and explained each answer in a very patient, detailed manner. He told me that the Frontier Village's Joss House was at the museum and couldn't be assembled because of lack of funding. In looking back at our conversation I now realize that I asked questions that thousands of people before me must have asked, but Frank treated me as though I was the first person to ever ask these questions. His attitude towards me gave me further incentive to create this site even though I wasn't a "local". Since then I've met a lot of people who are willing to give me information even though I'm not a local, but I'll never forgot Frank's patience and kindness." - Deanna DeMatteo, May 2003

"He was a teacher of Vegas history to all of those who sought his assistance in learning more about this town...He was a friend to all and will be greatly missed.. He was Mr. Las Vegas to alot of people and it was a sad day in Vegas history with his passing. - Howard Klein, May 2003

"Frank was unassuming... certainly not self-promoting... but very devoted to his quest for history of the Las Vegas valley and the few that were "movers and shakers"...I, one of many, will miss his company." - Dick Taylor, May, 2003

"Frank was a person who KNEW that the casino moguls didn't give a damn about the history of our town. He expressed that opinion about every time I ever saw him. I always would come up with about the same comment that "You can't fight City Hall." Frank was a dedicated man who probably knew that his dream would never be fulfilled, but he never gave up in his quest for funding the preservation of the past. Frank didn't care who anyone was, as long as they had a love for history and the artifacts thereof. But, as I told him, there is a transient attitude in this town, and people just don't seem to care. I heard the comment many times that there is no "Culture" in Las Vegas....."You want culture, go somewhere else." Is what I'd always say. Frank agreed with this. What Vegas is, Vegas is. Cut and dried. Yet, there is a need to preserve the history and the pot shards of the past. I know that he must have greatly appreciated your efforts in this ambition to pen the past. No one was "from" Vegas in the old days. We only get to claim a long residency. - Mike Christ, May 2003

"As a hometown girl I can say without question that perhaps no one loved Las Vegas history as much as Frank Wright. He moved to Las Vegas about 35 years ago and quickly embraced the city as his own. He spent countless hours unearthing, in more ways than one, the true history of Las Vegas. If you needed help, he was there. He took the "just the facts, ma'am" approach but in doing so, made the truth so much more exciting than all the myths. It may be quite awhile before Las Vegas has someone of his caliber in their historical corner. He was the keeper of our collective memory and we will miss him dearly." - Lynn Zook, May, 2003