He was Wichita’s most eligible bachelor — a title he earned from “People” magazine. She was a cover model with titles like Miss Venus International and Snap-on Tools Spokesmodel of the Year. 

And while the future Mr. and Mrs. Wright were most certainly easy on the eyes, they were also both hardworking, successful business owners. Don Wright owned Wichita’s original soda fountain, Old Mill Tasty Shop, with his mom, Mary. Angela Razook was the 20-something founder of her own company, Answer Advantage.

When the two Wichita natives finally met, it was definitely a match made in heaven — and they have their parents to thank for it. The couple’s parents had been friends since the 1970s, and later in life the two would find themselves running into each other every so often. But on one special night in 2002, Don made a life-changing decision when he delivered a dessert to Angela’s table where she was seated with friends at YaYa’s Euro Bistro. The rest, Angela says, is history.

Angela was 29 and Don was 35 when they began dating, and the bond between them felt instant. It was significant for Angela because her dad had passed away when she was only 4; Don remembers her father well since he was a bit older than she. Within three weeks of that first date, Angela recalls Don telling her, “I know you don’t know this yet, but I’m marrying you.” One year after that infamous dessert serving, Angela and Don and 19 family members and friends traveled to their destination wedding in the Bahamas to celebrate their love and witness their vows on February 8, 2003.

Working Formula

The Wrights are quite alike in some ways and different in others. Angela describes herself as more of a homebody, and says Don loves to be out — but it’s a formula that works for them. “He’s been a great influence on me to get out and have some fun and we’ve made such great memories, so I’m grateful I married such a fun guy,” Angela enthusiastically exclaims.

“The couple who plays together, stays together.” — Don

Asked what true love really is, Angela replies: “True love means being best friends and lovers at the same time. Don and I agree that our family always comes first, and I am appreciative he also respects that my career is very important to me. He always supports my hopes and dreams and, honestly, as a couple we just never want to burst each other’s bubble.”

They both believe that, from the beginning of their relationship, they felt a deep love and friendship and things were easy. “We were fully transparent and open with each other about our past, our expectations and what we wanted in each other. We have always had full trust in each other, and everything we felt in the beginning has become even deeper and more wonderful over our 20 years,” shares Angela. 

Don and Angela together share a love for their hometown. “Wichita is a wonderful place to raise your family, plus there are terrific resources here and amazing people,” says Don. “We are both strong in our faith and take our faith seriously, and are also truly blessed to have such a great group of friends here with whom we love spending time together.”

Wright Stuff

Before they met, Don and Angela each had their own moment in the spotlight. Angela said she did a little modeling locally growing up, and when she was 18 entered a modeling contest at a Wichita restaurant/bar. “I won the local contest never thinking in a million years anything would happen,” she said. 

But that contest sent her on to the Venus Model Search, a bikini model competition that was part of the Miss Universe pageant system. “I was just excited to go to Florida with my grandma, and then I freaking won the whole thing,” Angela said with a laugh. She was crowned Miss Venus International 1992, a title that opened the door to modeling contracts over the next decade.

Keeping Wichita as a home base, Angela lived in L.A. and Florida for months at a time while she modeled for such media as Venus catalogs, “American Swimwear” magazine and “Fit” magazine, landing on multiple covers. She said she did her last modeling shoot 20 years ago while she and Don were dating.

“The couple who works out together stays together.”

— Angela

Meanwhile, a journalist who Don met nabbed him for “People” magazine’s Top 100 Most Eligible bachelors nationwide in 2000. “City girls need not apply,” said the magazine article. “This Mr. Wright relishes the simple things in life. Fitting then that he runs the historic Old Mill Tasty Shop in Wichita, a frozen-in-time soda fountain that froths up the same rich banana splits, malts and shakes it did in the 1930s.”

“He got a lot of attention that he did not love,” Angela said of the article. 

While Angela didn’t initially want children, it was Don’s 6-year-old son, Keaton, that changed her mind, along with her own goddaughter, True. The couple later added two more sons of their own to the family, Brecken and Croix, now 18 and 16, respectively.

In addition to her full-time job as owner of Answer Advantage, Angela is a popular fitness instructor at the YMCA and credits the fact that, because they start their day with a workout at least three times a week, those workouts help them stay emotionally and physically strong as a couple. Don remains the well-known proprietor, along with his mother, of Old Mill Tasty Shop, which has been a beloved restaurant in Wichita since 1932 and gives him ample opportunities to gab with patrons.

And where do they like to dine? They love to eat out at locally-owned restaurants, but the “Wright Kitchen” seems to be a favorite as Don is known for his great cooking!

When asked about their best advice for others after 20 years of marriage, Angela quoted her grandmother: “Always remember that this too shall pass, and don't sweat the small stuff.” And most importantly, for all couples dating or married, Angela says they agree the best advice is to strive to be 100 percent honest, and be sure to share all your needs, boundaries, wishes and dreams together.