Feb. 8 (UPI) — Rep. Ron Wright of Texas has died of the coronavirus disease, his office announced on Monday — becoming the first member of Congress to succumb to the disease.
Wright, 67, died on Sunday night, according to a statement from his office.
“Congressman Ron Wright passed away peacefully at the age of 67,” the statement said.
“For the previous two weeks, Ron and [his wife] Susan had been admitted to Baylor Hospital in Dallas after contracting COVID-19.”
Wright, who had also been battling lung cancer, was diagnosed with COVID-19 in January.
Several other members of Congress have also been diagnosed with COVID-19 over the past year, but the Texas Republican is the first to die from the virus.
“Ron maintained his quick wit and optimism until the very end,” his office added. “Despite years of painful, sometimes debilitating treatment for cancer, Ron never lacked the desire to get up and go to work, to motivate those around him, or to offer fatherly advice.”
Wright was first elected to the House in 2018 and was re-elected in November.
Notable deaths of 2021
Johnny Pacheco
Johnny Pacheco take part in ceremonies on April 11, 2006, announcing the Latin Grammy Awards will be held for the first time ever in New York City. The co-founder of Latin music label Fania Records,
Larry Flynt
Larry Flynt appears at the Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas on January 11, 2008. The Hustler publisher
Marty Schottenheimer
San Diego Chargers head coach Marty Schottenheimer watches from the sideline as the Chargers beat the Broncos 48-20, in San Diego, on December 10, 2006. The NFL icon who won 200 games as head coach,
Mary Wilson
Mary Wilson arrives at the NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles, on February 17, 2012. The Motown legend, known for being a founding member of The Supremes with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard,
George Shultz
Former Secretary of State George Shultz listens to a speaker at a centenary celebration in San Francisco, on April 18, 2006. Shultz, who was also a distinguished fellow and professor at Stanford University,
Leon Spinks
Leon Spinks, former heavyweight boxing champion smiles as he watches a fight between him and Muhammad Ali during Enshrinement ceremonies for the Class of 2015 of the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame in St. Louis, on September 17, 2015. Spinks
Ron Wright
Rep. Ron Wright, R-Texas,
Christopher Plummer
Christopher Plummer waves to the crowd during his hand & footprint ceremony immortalizing him in the forecourt of TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX in Los Angeles on March 27, 2015. The actor, best known for his role in “The Sound of Music,”
Hal Holbrook
Cast member Hal Holbrook attends the premiere of “Planes: Fire & Rescue” in Los Angeles, on July 15, 2014. The actor, best known for his role of Mark Twain in a one-man show,
Dustin Diamond
Dustin Diamond poses for a photo at the Chiller Theatre Expo at the Sheraton Parsippany Hotel in Parsippany, N.J., on October 27, 2012. The actor, best known for his role as Samuel “Screech” Powers in “Saved by the Bell,”
Cicely Tyson
Cicely Tyson attends the Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on September 15, 2019. The actor
Cloris Leachman
Cloris Leachman attends the premiers of Starz’s television series “American Gods” at the ArcLight Cinema Dome in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles on April 20, 2017. The actor
Larry King
Television and radio host Larry King is seen in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York City on December 1, 2016. The broadcaster
Hank Aaron
Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron waves to fans before he presents the Hank Aaron Award to Giancarlo Stanton in San Francisco, on October 25, 2014. Aaron, also known as “Hammerin’ Hank,”
Phil Spector
Music producer Phil Spector (L), charged with fatally shooting actress Lana Clarkson, departs after appearing for a pretrial hearing at the Los Angeles Superior Court in Los Angeles, on October 27, 2005. Spector
Joanne Rogers
Tom Hanks (L and Joanne Rogers, widow of Mr. Rogers, shares a laugh at the Rally for Peace in Point State Park in Pittsburgh, on November 9, 2018. Rogers, who continued the work of supporting children and families following her husband’s death,
Siegfried Fischbacher
Siegfried Fischbacher (L) and Roy Horn of Siegfried & Roy, arrive at the premiere of the Beatles Love by Cirque du Soleil, at the Mirage in Las Vegas, on July 2, 2006. Siegfried, known as the magician in their act,
Tommy Lasorda
Tommy Lasorda throws out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 4 of the National League Championship Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, on October 15, 2013. The legendary Dodgers manager
Dearon ‘Deezer D’ Thompson
Deezer D (R), greets St. Louis Cardinals fan Jon Kempker on the field, prior to a game with the New York Mets in St. Louis, on June 19, 1999. The actor, known for his role in “ER,”
Tanya Roberts
Tanya Roberts (L) and co-star Roger Moore discuss their James Bond film “A View to a Kill,” at a press conference in San Francisco, on May 21, 1985. Roberts, known for roles as a Bond Girl and “That ’70s Show,”