Bill Wright, car dealer and advocate for abused children dies.

WWMT-Newschannel 3's Andy Pepper is reporting that Kalamazoo car dealer, sports owner and philanthropist Bill Wright has died in Clearwater, FL. MLive is reporting Wright died in Ft. Myers, Florida, where he had a home. Wright was 54. Details to this story are still coming together.

In an on air interview on Ch.3, Community Healing Center's Executive Director Sally Reames termed him "larger than life". Both Reames and Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell, expressed shock and disbelief.

Wright overcame an abusive childhood to become a major figure in Kalamazoo and West Michigan auto sales. His name was synonymous with the Seelye-Wright Auto Group. He was also commercial pitchman for the dealerships with his well known "Yes We Can" slogan. Wright also headed an ownership group that operated the Kalamazoo Kings baseball team. Wright was also a generous advocate for efforts to eliminate child abuse with the Wright for Kids Foundation. His foundation involved with both the Rock for Kids concerts downtown and the annual RoofSit fundraiser for the Community Healing Center.