Supporting the Lancers the ‘Wright’ way

By: Trevor Dinham

The heart of a Lancer athlete lies beneath the shield on their chest, while the soul of Lancer programs is found in the stands, watching proudly.

I visited William (Bill) and Jean Wright at their home in a charming Windsor suburb, just a ten-minute drive from the University campus.  The mature neighborhood is full of large trees that throw shade during hot summers and put you to work raking in the fall.  This is where they raised their three daughters, twins Lindsay and Jacqueline, and youngest Kelly.  An active couple, they are always attending events throughout the community, including junior hockey games, theatre performances, social events, and of course they have spent enormous amounts of time watching and cheering on their Lancers in basketball, hockey, volleyball, football, and track & field.

Both retired for more than a few years now, they each enjoyed successful careers, Bill practiced law, and Jean was an elementary school teacher. These days they get to travel more and prioritize time with their grandkids. Their volunteer commitments aren’t as time consuming as they once were, but they continue to stay connected to the community. Experience gives them perspective on the world, able to have engaging conversation on just about any topic. And, just as many couples who have spent a lifetime together will do, they quibble over who keeps too much old stuff around the house.  The one thing they can always agree on though, is their unwavering support for the University of Windsor and their beloved Lancers.

 

From Tilbury to Campus

Both came to Windsor through Tilbury District High School.  Bill, like many Canadian kids, was chasing his dream of playing in the National Hockey League and did not take school too seriously. When he did not make a junior team, that door closed, and he refocused his sights on getting a university education.  Despite his father’s objections, who didn’t see the value in it and would have preferred him to take over the family business, Bill headed off to university. It didn’t take him long to find a spot on the Lancer hockey team, yet finding his first class took him a little more time.

 

“Day one was a little crazy, I missed two classes and was off to a terrible start,” said Bill with a laugh. “But within a week I loved it.  It was so interesting; the professors were interesting, and psychology courses were through the roof interesting… Some things you don’t recognize until you look back on them, but as my hockey got worse, my education got better, and I eventually made the Dean’s list. I never ever thought I would be on any Dean’s list.”

Jean, one year Bill’s junior, joined him on campus a year later. Many of her classmates leaving high school were getting married or finding work on the farm, but her family thought further education was important and Jean knew from an early age that she wanted to be a teacher.

“No one in my family had ever gone to university, but my parents really encouraged me and (so did) my grandparents… especially my Meme who helped pay for it,” Jean notes. “I went to university, and I loved it! I lived in a residence, in Electa, and I LOVED it! I loved my courses, I made a lot of good friends, went to a lot of varsity games, I played intramural. I came from such a small town, a farm. At university it was just like a whole new world opened up to me.”

Jean would achieve the goal she had set for herself when she started at the University, graduating with an undergraduate degree and Bachelor of Education. Despite a glut of teachers applying for work, she had a few offers but took the first position she applied for with the county school board and went to work.

After completing his undergraduate degree, Bill would get to a final interview but lose out on a job at the Ford Motor Company. A little ticked off, he decided more education would be useful and he chose law school over pursuing an MBA, not realizing just how difficult it was going to be.

“They [law students] were very competitive. Going in, I knew only one other person, but we never talked, he was too busy,” Bill notes. “Well, I played on the law school hockey team and all of a sudden, I had a group of friends, and that’s what got me through, and a lot of hard work.”

Both had enjoyed their university experience, but it was time to begin careers and to start thinking about having a family. That chapter of life had ended, and they put the University of Windsor in the rearview mirror – or so they thought.

Alumni Association comes calling

Fast forward nearly 25 years, their kids grown and attending university themselves (you can guess which university they were encouraged to attend). Over the years they attended some Lancer hockey games, but largely were not involved. It was Bill’s long-time accountant and good friend that reached out one day.

 

“Vince Bassman called, he clears his throat and says, ‘got something I want you to do, I want you to go on to the [University of Windsor’s] Alumni Board,’” Bill recounts. “I told him, ‘I don’t know if I want to spend a lot of time on a stuffy board.’ Vince replied, ‘I guarantee you will not find the alumni board stuffy.’ I told him, ‘I will do this for you, but if it doesn’t work, I will be gone.’ Well, it was the best thing that ever happened.”

 

Bill didn’t just fill a seat on the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors, he jumped in with both feet and brought Jean with him. Serving on board committees, the executive committee, and eventually

as president, Bill attended almost every university function he was invited to, with Jean right by his side. With Bassman, they voted to sign a 10-year agreement with insurance provider Meloche Monnex, providing coverage for all alumni and a steady revenue stream for the association. As these funds grew, the Alumni Board was able to support projects across campus, notably a synthetic turf for the stadium field and the athletics centre expansion that we all know now as the Toldo Lancer Centre.

 

Now more involved on campus than when they were students, it was not long after Bill’s term on the board ended that they asked Jean to take her turn. Following her husband’s path, but doing it in her own way, Jean took a seat at the table working alongside many members that the couple now consider close friends.

 

Their efforts did not go unnoticed. Former University President Ross Paul gave them their first formal recognition, presenting them each with a Clark Award for outstanding service to the university.

 

“As proud alumni, Bill and Jean have volunteered tirelessly,” says Katherine Simon, an Alumni Engagement Officer and friend, with enthusiasm. “Their commitment and leadership have set the gold standard for engaged alumni, inspiring countless others to give back to our university community. We can’t thank them enough for their incredible contributions and unwavering support!”

Returning for a second stint, Bill was asked to be the Alumni representative on the University Board of Governors. Working with then University President Alan Wildeman, Bill helped shape the institution, supporting students whenever possible.

Going beyond the call, building the Lancer family

What stands out even more than the formal positions the couple has held are the impacts that they have been able to have directly with student-athletes and coaches. When Chantal Vallée took over as head coach of the Lancer women’s basketball program, she asked Jean for her help. Not with the Xs and Os, not for money, but if she would be willing to act as a “Windsor Mom” for some key players (Iva Peklova, Czech Republic and Jessica Clemencon, France) she had recruited from Europe.

“Chantal said to me, ‘They have nobody here. Would you be willing to help them out?’” Jean recalls. “I said, sure. I met with them, and we really hit it off well. I would take them shopping for groceries, or over to Michigan to find shoes for their big basketball player feet, to get their visa renewed, or just for breakfast or lunch. We got really close to them.'”

These players thrived, playing starring roles as the team went from a perennial underachiever to five-time national champions.

“Bill and Jean have been an incredible source of support and inspiration for our team over the years,” said Vallée. “Their unwavering dedication and enthusiasm go beyond just attending games—they are the heart and soul of our community of supporters. Knowing they are in the stands cheering us on gives our players an extra boost of confidence and motivation, especially during pivotal moments in tough games.”

But it wasn’t just the women’s basketball team that they supported. They touched every varsity program, being at volleyball games and watching their daughter’s friends play as they won a provincial title and a berth in the national tournament. They organized alumni reunions for the hockey team, present awards at the many track and field championships hosted in the Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse, and became the most enthusiastic ambassadors the Windsor Lancers have ever had.

“Our parents are always eager to share their love for the Lancers. They are always excited to bring out of town guests to games or to update anyone who couldn’t be at a game how the teams played,” shared their daughter Kelly Fenn. “They have shared this passion with the generations after them as well. My sisters and I are proud Lancer supporters and U of W alumni. Their grandchildren go to many events and have attended Lancer summer camps.”

Recognizing the important role that having good, consistent coaches play in the success of the Lancer programs, they sought to make sure the coaches were thanked and felt recognized for all that they do.  Understanding that the job requires sacrificing family time for travel and training and the need to be invested in the community, Bill and Jean began organizing an annual appreciation dinner for Lancer coaches, athletic department staff, and their spouses.  The event ran for many years and had no set agenda other than to take a moment at the end of each season to say thanks, and to let each person know their extra work was seen and appreciated.

“They have supported the University and the Lancers with significant philanthropic gifts and have held every volunteer role imaginable in support of the University of Windsor and the University of Windsor Alumni Association,” said former Director of Athletics Mike Havey. “Bill and Jean represent and live the highest ideals of community service daily. We are proud that they are members of our Lancer family.”

 

Getting more than they have given

Before wrapping up our hour-plus kitchen table conversation about their passion for the University, Bill was adamant to note that with any investment there are returns and they have been on the receiving end more than not.

“This is not as selfless as it sounds,” Bill says with a serious tone. “Our involvement has allowed us to develop great relationships, to make lifelong friends, the kind of people who attend each other’s funerals. That kind of connection in life doesn’t always come along. There are lots of people in this world who are not connected.  We are fortunate to have lots of friends.”

He goes on to note that Ross (Paul), Alan (Wildeman), Douglas (Neal), and now Rob (Gordon), “have all thanked us for what we have done. We have been recognized and we feel respected by the alumni and the University.”

“We have gotten as much out of it as we gave,” Jean added. “I have invested my time, energy, and dollars… I am fully invested.”

And when asked if they see themselves first as fans, supporters, or ambassadors, they were quick to respond.

“All of those, and it will always be all of those.  This is our university. No one is going to take it away from (us).”

So, while coaches and players, institutional leaders and administrators, and many students have all come and gone over the years, the one constant the University of Windsor and the Lancers can count on is the unwavering support of their greatest ambassadors, Bill and Jean Wright.