Charles Alan Wright
Professor Charles Alan Wright founded and directed the Legal Eagles, an intramural football team comprised of UT law students that dominated the leagues, for 45 years. The team achieved an incredible record of 330 victories, 44 losses and 5 tied games.
Off the field, Professor Wright accrued a multitude of accolades, awards and recognition, and goes down in history as one of the most respected legal scholars in the country. He was a leading authority on federal courts and is credited for bringing national prestige to the UT School of Law. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg once said that Wright stood “like a Colossus... at the summit of our profession.”
In the fall of 2001, RecSports created the Charles Alan Wright Trophy to honor his memory as “The Winningest Coach in Texas Football History.” The trophy is given to the All-University Champion Intramural Flag Football Team each year in tribute to its namesake. Never before in UT history has the greatness of one individual been so monumental as to warrant the establishment of such an intramural sport award. RecSports Senior Assistant Director Bob Childress identifies the trophy as a fitting tribute to Professor Wright because of the coach’s love and appreciation for recreational sports and intramural football. “Professor Wright left an indelible imprint on the Intramural program at RecSports that will live on through the establishment of this trophy”. UT Law Professor Thomas O. McGarity, a former Legal Eagles player who Wright appointed as head coach in 1992, recalls “Charlie” with fondness and admiration. “His life had so many aspects and he strove for excellence in all of them. That’s what he did for the Legal Eagles.”
The Legal Eagles’ tradition of excellence continues today through the efforts of currently enrolled law students and team alumni. The Charles Alan Wright Trophy is on display at Gregory Gym in a memorial exhibit that chronicles the professor’s extraordinary life as a legal scholar, law professor and intramural coach.