Hot Springs Couple's Land Sale Supports University Of Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Hot Springs physicians Chuck and Jan Wright wanted to give back to their alma mater. They chose to do so by selling a piece of property to the University.

The Wrights have sold a piece of property to the University of Arkansas for a substantial discount, creating a gift of $470,000 to the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century. This is referred to as a "bargain sale."

The future use of the property has not yet been determined. The land is south of, and overlooks, the campus area.

"We are grateful to the Wrights for their generosity to the University of Arkansas," said UA Chancellor John A. White. "This gift is unique in that we have some flexibility with what to do with this newly acquired property. It might prove useful to future University expansion, or it may be more beneficial for us to sell it to an interested investor and use the funds for academic programs. Either way, it’s a great asset for the University and supports our vision to emerge as a nationally competitive, student-centered research university serving Arkansas and the world."

Chuck Wright said, "We had the property for awhile and looked at the financial implications of selling the property outright versus keeping it. I had read an article about Dave Gearhart [UA vice chancellor for University Advancement] and began looking into the sale of the property to the U of A and we found that it worked out well for us to do so."

Chuck Wright earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Arkansas. Jan Wright earned hers in chemistry. They met as medical students at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. Chuck Wright is currently a urologist in private practice in Hot Springs. Jan Wright is a general practitioner although not currently practicing.

The Wrights are a part of a longtime family tradition of Arkansas alumni (or future alumni). Chuck Wright’s brothers are UA alumni as are Jan Wright’s father, brother, sister and several nieces and nephews. Their daughter is currently a sophomore and a Chancellor’s Scholar at the U of A. The Wrights are life members of the Arkansas Alumni Association.