Throughout the month of February, The Courier Eco Latino will honor Black History Month by spotlighting one local African American leader—past or present—each day. The series will feature trailblazers, educators, entrepreneurs, artists, advocates, and unsung heroes whose contributions have helped shape the soul, strength, and future of our community.
These are stories that may not always make headlines, but make a difference every day. From classrooms to boardrooms, from pulpits to protest lines, from small businesses to grassroots movements, each honoree reflects resilience, leadership, and service rooted right here at home.
Dr. Robert Lee Wright, founder and chairman emeritus of Dimensions International, Inc., stands as one of Columbus, Georgia’s most accomplished African American Black History icons—an innovator whose life bridges civil rights, public service, and global enterprise.
Born March 17, 1937, in Columbus to a bricklayer father and a nurse mother, Wright’s story is rooted in hard work and aspiration. After graduating from high school, he attended Ohio State University, where he studied alongside future world-class athletes and distinguished himself academically. In 1960, Wright earned his degree from the university’s College of Optometry and returned home to Georgia to begin practicing as an optometrist—bringing professional excellence back to the community that shaped him…