Texas Republican Representative Ron Wright, 67, passed away on February 7 after being diagnosed with cancer in 2018, and testing positive for the coronavirus in late January.
Pre-Existing Condition
Representative Wright received his diagnosis of lung cancer in 2018, and was admitted to a hospital in Dallas in September of 2020 because of complications from his treatment.
In late January, he tested positive for the coronavirus, but said in a statement that he was only experiencing “minor symptoms.”
COVID
On January 8, Rep. Wright’s family confirmed his death in a statement given to the Dallas Morning News. The Republican representative’s office also released a statement about the tragic news.
“As friends, family, and many of his constituents will know, Ron maintained his quick wit and optimism until the very end. 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,” the statement read.
Here’s the statement from Ron Wright’s office on his death pic.twitter.com/XpWCEQSbQw
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) February 8, 2021
Representative Wright’s wife, Susan, was hospitalized with the coronavirus just two weeks ago, according to the statement.
Though Wright is the first sitting Congressman to pass away after being diagnosed with COVID, Louisiana Republican Representative-elect Luke Letlow, 41, passed away from a heart attack after being diagnosed with the disease in late December of 2020, only a few days before he was supposed to be sworn in to Congress.
