Roll Call Tribute

Edwin (Ed) Benjamin Bright
November 26, 1941 - May 1, 2020

Early Friday morning on May 1, 2020 Ed took his last breaths at home with his wife, Sheila, by his side.  He had been surrounded each day that week by the people he loved the most – his wife, children, and grandchildren.  All shared stories and expressed their love and even in his weakened state, he showed his sense of humor and he would often say, “I love you, hon.”

Ed was born on November 26, 1941 in Waco, TX, but lived his formative years in Lubbock, TX where he graduated from Monterrey HS and Texas Tech University with a degree in Animal Science. Four years of College ROTC provided him a pathway into the U.S. Army as an officer.  Following a 30-year career in the Texas Army National Guard, he retired as Lieutenant Colonel in 1994.

In 1966, his career as a County Extension Agent –Texas A&M University began with 2 years in Navarro County and an additional 35 years in Dallas County.  This was the longest any County Extension Agent served Dallas County. Ed was head of 4-H in Dallas County, which involved organizing new clubs, training volunteer leaders and working with youth in all aspects of 4-H.  As a result of his work, he was recognized in the following ways:   Distinguished Service Award – National Agricultural Agents Association, Distinguished Service Award – National 4-H Agents Association and Search for Excellence Award – Texas A&M University.  He was Founder and First President of the Texas 4-H Agents Association and upon retirement in 2003, Ed was granted Emeritus status from Texas A&M.  In addition to his work, Ed acquired his Masters Degree in Education from A&M.

Volunteering was important to Ed and that continued in retirement.  In 1996, he organized, helped incorporate, and served as president for 10 years of NPNA, a voluntary neighborhood organization serving 1189 households.  Crime watch and prevention were a strong interest and he was currently serving as Vice President – Crime Watch. With this job came the opportunity to meet some of the city’s finest police officers from the NW Division of the Dallas PD. Along with three others, he founded District 13 Crime Watch, which includes crime watch representatives from most neighborhoods in the NW Police Division.  The group supports and assists the police department, as well as District 13 City Council Representative.  He was a community representative to a management council for the neighborhood elementary school, member of various committees at church, and was appointed to the city’s Red Light Commission and Dallas County’s Trail and Preserve Program (TAPP) Board. TAPP studied and planned the jogging/walking/biking trails that are being enjoyed in NPNA and other areas of the county today.

Ed was preceded in death by his first wife of 21 years, Paula George Bright; parents Olly and Jean Rhea Street Bright; brothers-in-law Jim White and John George; and nephew Donnie White.

He is survived by the following:  His wife of 29 years, Sheila George Bright, along with 3 special daughters and spouses – Laurie and Jeff Page, Lisa and Mike Gill, and Leslie and Forrest McKinney.  His grandchildren were the highlight of his life and include granddaughters Carson Gill, Sophie and Violette McKinney, and grandson Michael Page. Also included are his sweet sister and spouse, Harry and Barbara Bright Hopton; his two sisters-in-law, Conde George White and Jaye Cunningham George; nephews Scott and Rusty George, Stephen Hopton and nieces Kelley Hopton Mansfield, Wendie White Woodward and Jennie George Strozier; 12 great nieces and nephews and 2 great great nephews and a great great niece. Family was very special to him.

Other things Ed liked were his friends, our ranch, homemade ice cream, sports, helping others, old country music, talk radio, guns and antique duck decoys and their history, spearmint gum, hot sauce, old western shows, history, Thanksgiving, funny sayings of which he had many, his denim shorts year round, homemade vegetable beef soup, hunting, fishing and life in general!

A private interment will be held at Brights 3L Ranch and a celebration of life/memorial service will be scheduled as soon as the church opens and will allow a larger gathering of people.

If you would like to honor the memory of Edwin B. Bright, his family requests that contributions be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center, Multiple Myeloma Moon Shot, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486 or www.mdanderson.org/moonshots

Other options include Royal Lane Baptist Church, Youth and Children Programs, 6707 Royal Lane, Dallas, TX 75230 or a charity of your choice.

Bright Family
PO Box 781022
Dallas, TX  75378