Fort Bend County officials gathered June 29 to rename the Fort Bend County Jail to the Sheriff Milton T. Wright Jr. Detention Center in honor of the county's longest serving sheriff.
The renaming, which was approved by Fort Bend County commissioners at a June 25 meeting, was spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Richmond, following Wright's death earlier this year.
Zooming in
Wright was first elected Fort Bend County sheriff in 1996 and served four terms through 2012, where he modernized the office with advanced technology, specialized divisions and inmate support programs.
Before serving Fort Bend County, Wright worked for the Texas Department of Public Safety and served in the presidential motorcade during the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy. He also served as a highway patrolman and was appointed to the Texas Rangers. Additionally, Wright served in the U.S. Navy for three years.
"I think it is proper that the jail is named after Sheriff Wright and the reason I say that, as the sheriff, one of our biggest responsibilities ... is this jail," Sheriff Eric Fagan said. "This jail does not only hold prisoners, it helps to change their lives. Sheriff Wright brought a lot of things to the jail to help change the lives of individuals that were in our jails ... to come back to the community to be productive."
What they're saying
Interim Fort Bend County Judge Daniel Wong said the renaming will serve as a reminder that public service is not measured by recognition but instead by the willingness to answer the call to serve others.
"There are moments in the life of the community where we pause, not to look ahead but to look back with gratitude and today is one of those moments," Wong said. "Today, we are not simply dedicating a building; we are honoring a life. While buildings may stand for decades, a life of honorable service can inspire generations."
