Thomas Alexander Wright

Nomination of Reverend Thomas Alexander Wright for Honorary Doctorate of Public Service (DPS)

The University of Florida Honorary Degree Committee recommends that Reverend Thomas Alexander Wright be awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Public Service for his exceptional leadership in promoting civil rights and spiritual values.

Reverend Wright played an historical role not only for civil rights in north Florida, but for the nation as well. As the leading religious figure in St. Augustine, he led the way for Dr. Martin Luther King's visit to St. Augustine which capped a long struggle, culminating in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As pastor of the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Gainesville since 1965, Reverend Wright has continued to promote equal rights and opportunities. As Dr. Karen Cole-Smith, director of Santa Fe Community College's Center for Academic and Professional Development, remarks, "It is no accident that he was featured in the Gainesville Sun as one of the fifty people who made a difference in north central Florida and was given a day of recognition - Thomas A. Wright Day, July 21, 1985, by the Gainesville City Commission." David Colburn, provost of the University of Florida, found him to be "…an enormously impressive man both for his spiritual and human qualities." Professor L. Alexander writes, "Each community, it seems, has one person who has emerged as the leader of African Americans during the struggles for equality and access of the 1950s and 1960s. In the communities of Gainesville/Alachua County and St. Augustine, Reverend Wright stands head and shoulders above the others." Reverend Wright stands as a shining symbol for what is right in our community and beyond. His selfless dedication to humanity makes this remarkable man a role model for future generations.