Home Page of Charles R.B. Wright

I am a member of the Mathematics Department faculty at the University of Oregon, where I have been since 1961. Though officially retired, I can still be seen occasionally on campus.

Please feel free to call me at home (541-485-4399).

My most recent area of mathematical interest is computational group theory, especially algorithms for finite polycyclic groups. I have worked in combinatorial and finite soluble group theory, as well as in nonassociative algebra. For a number of years I chaired the GAP Council , the advisory-editorial board for GAP , a powerful system for computational group theory, including character theory and applications to graphs and codes. Check it out.

I am also a coauthor, with Kenneth A. Ross, of a discrete math textbook, now out in its fifth edition, and would be glad to answer questions about the book. Address complaints to Ross.

There is no truth to most of the rumors, all of which are quite old by now. Don't look at the queuing theory axioms or Wright's Law of Small Numbers either.

If you're interested, you can view pictures of me in the classroom, where I used to spend my time, or at home, where I hang out now. Also here are a couple of pictures of me with my wife, Leslie, and later that evening me conducting the Oregon Mozart Players chamber orchestra on my 65th birthday. I am a tremendous fan of the Mozart Players, and encourage everyone in the Eugene area who likes classical music to come to the OMP concerts.

I play bassoon in the Alder Street Quintet, an ensemble of the Alder Street Winds. The quintet is the oldest established permanent floating woodwind quintet in Eugene, having been formed in the late 60's when I lived on Alder Street. I also play in the Uncalled Four bassoon quartet (who recorded the music you just heard) and play principal bassoon in the Riverside Chamber Symphony.

Here are pictures of Leslie and me enjoying ourselves in Norway, the Czech Republic, Chile, Japan, Australia, Switzerland and, most recently, Guernsey. And here are some pictures from a 2006 visit to Oregon by our Japanese friends Hiro and Michi Taguchi. When we travel, we emphasize hiking, rather than cities.

I also manufacture and promote SWINGERs, the modern devices to prevent embarrassing spills. You really ought to click this link!

Here are the Christmas cryptograms for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Solutions may be obtained by writing to me. And before you write to me about puzzles 4 and 6 in the 2008 batch, yes, I did it on purpose, but now wish I hadn't.

Here are the cryptograms created to celebrate the publication of Conifers of the World by James E. Eckenwalder, and here are their solutions.

Here, too, are the Christmas anacrostic puzzles created by my clever daughter Allyson, in PDF. The 2002 and 2003 ones are standard. The 2004 puzzle is available in regular and extra-lite versions. The 2005 puzzle reverts back to type--dead easy, the 2006 one is moderately difficult, the 2007 one is moderate, the 2008 one is presented as both regular and lite puzzles, and the 2009 ones are again offered as regular and lite. Try the regular one first! Hints for the anacrostically-challenged are also available for the 2003, 2004 and 2005 puzzles.

I've also tried my hand at fiction. Here's a very short story .


Charles R.B. Wright
2560 Harris Street
Eugene OR 97405-3046, U.S.A.
Email: wright at uoregon.edu

Last significant change: December 20, 2009.