Celebrating 28 Days of Black Excellence. Past and Present: Dr. Robert "Bob" Wright

Throughout the month of February, The Courier Eco Latino will honor Black History Month by spotlighting one local African American leader—past or present—each day. The series will feature trailblazers, educators, entrepreneurs, artists, advocates, and unsung heroes whose contributions have helped shape the soul, strength, and future of our community.

These are stories that may not always make headlines, but make a difference every day. From classrooms to boardrooms, from pulpits to protest lines, from small businesses to grassroots movements, each honoree reflects resilience, leadership, and service rooted right here at home.

Dr. Robert Lee Wright, founder and chairman emeritus of Dimensions International, Inc., stands as one of Columbus, Georgia’s most accomplished African American Black History icons—an innovator whose life bridges civil rights, public service, and global enterprise.

Born March 17, 1937, in Columbus to a bricklayer father and a nurse mother, Wright’s story is rooted in hard work and aspiration. After graduating from high school, he attended Ohio State University, where he studied alongside future world-class athletes and distinguished himself academically. In 1960, Wright earned his degree from the university’s College of Optometry and returned home to Georgia to begin practicing as an optometrist—bringing professional excellence back to the community that shaped him.

Wright’s commitment to justice extended well beyond his profession. During the height of the Civil Rights Movement, he was among those who answered history’s call, participating in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March. That sense of civic responsibility soon carried him into public office. In 1968, Wright was recruited by the Republican Party to run for Columbus City Council, where he won election and was re-elected three times, becoming a prominent local voice during a pivotal era of change.

His leadership reached the national stage when President Ronald Reagan appointed him Associate Administrator for Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership Development. After two years in Washington, Wright returned to the private sector and, in 1985, founded Dimensions International, Inc. Under his vision, the company became a leading provider of advanced systems engineering, information technology, and airspace management services to government and private clients. A core subsidiary, Flight Explorer, emerged as the premier web-based global flight-tracking platform. The firm grew into a multimillion-dollar defense contractor and earned national recognition, including placement among Black Enterprise magazine’s BE 100.

Wright’s influence extended into major cultural and corporate institutions. He served as chairman of the National Museum of African American History and Culture and chaired the Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Since 1999, he has been a director of Aflac, Inc., further underscoring his stature in American business.

Over the decades, Wright has received numerous honors, including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Technology Services, Man of the Year honors from the National Federation of Black Women Business Owners, the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award, the NAACP Achievement Award, and the Push Excellence Award.

From the streets of Columbus to the halls of national power and global commerce, Dr. Robert Lee Wright’s legacy is one of vision, courage, and enduring impact—proof that local roots can yield world-class leadership, and that Black excellence, grounded in service, can reshape industries and institutions alike.