The Wright family’s relationship with Austin, and with the chiropractic practice, dates back even further. J. Stanley Wright, born in 1892, started his career as a dentist before going back to school to become a chiropractor. B.J. Palmer, who is widely regarded as one of the founders of the profession, was one of his teachers.
J. Stanley Wright founded the family business in Austin in 1920. The family believes he was one of two chiropractors in the city, which had a population of just over 34,000, according to city data.
“In those days, the city of Austin was not the roaring area that it is now at that time,” said Bob Wright, J. Stanley’s son.
Bob Wright remembers walking downtown to schools including Pease Elementary School and Stephen F. Austin High School as he was growing up. Before he found his way to the family business, he fought in World War II as a Marine fighter pilot. He joined his dad in 1950.
In 1994, his son, Billy Wright, joined the practice, which began operating out of its current location at 502 W. 12th St., Austin, in the 1970s. J. Stanley Wright retired in 1982 after more than 30 years working with his son.
Billy Wright said there was no question he would work with his dad.
“I had options open and never was pushed into it or anything like that,” Billy Wright said. “I have an older brother and an older sister. And fortunately for me, neither one of them were interested in it. That left the door open for me.”
Billy Wright’s son, Tyler Wright, joined the practice in 2021, around the time his grandfather, Bob Wright, retired.
The four-generation family said they are aware of only a handful of families in the country that have been practicing as long as they have, and the longest-running family is five generations long.
“We’ve got a handful of patients that were treated by my grandfather, treated by my dad, treated by me, and now with Dr. Tyler in the office, they’re wanting to sign up to see him,” Billy Wright said. “My point is, we have generations of families that still come to us.”
Wright Family Chiropractic
502 W. 12th St., Austin
512-476-5695
www.wrightfamilychiroaustin.com
Mon., Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tue., Thu. 8:20 a.m.-5 p.m.;
Wed. 8 a.m.-noon; Sat., Sun. closed
