Johnny “Cooch” Ross Wright Sr.
Published 11:24 am Monday, December 11, 2017
Johnny “Cooch” Ross Wright Sr., 75, of Greeneville, passed away Wednesday, December 6, 2017, at Life Care Center of Elizabethton.
He was born May 15, 1942 in Greeneville, Tenn., and was a 1960 graduate of Greeneville High School.
Mr. Wright was a radio announcer and TV anchor; disc Jockey at WGRV, WSMG, WETB, WQUT, WBEJ, WJSO, WMTN, WBIR, WNPC, and WHBO in Tampa; anchorman in Knoxville at WATE; DJ Hall of Fame in Nashville, WJSO, WETB, WMTN in Morristown, WBIR in Knoxville, WHBO radio in Tampa, and WNPC in Newport.
Celebrities he met and entertained as a DJ include Bobby Bare, Junior Samples, Dale Reeves, George Jones, Faron Young, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny and June Cash, Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn to name a few.
Survivors include three children, Wendy Wright and John Wright Jr. of Elizabethton and Joni Paige of Erwin; grandchildren, Cassie Franklin, Conner Campbell, Harrison Wright and Sydney Wright of Elizabethton and Mykayla Wright, Jenna Paige and Maddox Paige of Erwin; a great-grandson, Jackson Luke Franklin of Elizabethton; brothers, William Paul (Junior) Wright and Bob Wright, both of Greeneville; and many nieces and nephews.
He was the son of the late Paul and Mable Whetsell Wright and was preceded in death by two brothers, Les Wright and Jack Wright.
A memorial service was held at 4 p.m. Saturday, December 9, in the Kiser-Rose Hill Chapel. In lieu of flowers, you may donate to Paws of Hope Wellness Center, designated to the Misfit Hounds account, 231 Highway 19 East, Bluff City, TN 37618 or you may send it through PayPal to pohvet@yahoo.com and be sure to designate to the Misfit Hounds account. Thoughts and memories may be shared with the family at www.kiserrosehillfuneralhome.com.