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MEDIA CONTACT

Emily Bruce
Public Relations Manager
214-360-0833
ebruce@halfpricebooks.com

OUR EXECUTIVES

Sharon Anderson Wright

Executive Officer

Since 1972, Sharon Anderson Wright has gone from the first employee of Half Price Books to its CEO. She has helped the company expand from a single 1,000 square foot converted laundromat into the nation's largest family-owned new and used bookstore chain.

Wright began working for Half Price Books at the age of 13, sorting and shelving paperbacks. In 1976, she opened and managed the Richardson, Texas location and in 1986, she became manager of the company's flagship store. Within three years she was promoted to District Manager of all five Dallas stores. She was appointed General Manager and Executive Vice President of corporate operations the following year. Wright took the reins as Half Price Books President in 1996 after her mother, Half Price Books Cofounder Pat Anderson, passed away.

Adhering to the company philosophy that her mother maintained is a major objective for Wright. She continues to expand Half Price Books, opening approximately eight new bookstores per year, but is committed to keeping the company an eco-friendly, fun place to work and upholding the company's mission of preserving the environment by reusing and recycling.

The married mother of two is also an avid reader and staunch literacy advocate.

Kathy Doyle Thomas

President

Kathy Doyle Thomas joined Half Price Books in July 1989. During her time with the company, she has helped Half Price Books become the largest family-owned bookstore chain in the United States. In her various roles over the years, she has managed national marketing efforts, customer service and risks as well as all real estate purchases, store expansion criteria and site selection. She is also president of Half Price Books Community Services, a 501(c)(3) organization that supports various community programs.

Prior to working at Half Price Books, Thomas spent seven years in public broadcasting with KERA Channel 13, KERA 90.1 and KDTN Channel 2, where her responsibilities included supervising media and editing PBS’ affiliate magazine The Dial.

Thomas work has been recognized with several awards, including the Women in Communications' Matrix and Clarion awards, National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting system advertising awards, the Dallas Advertising League's TOPS awards and the Dallas Press Club's Katie award.

She was honored with the Silver Award by the National Retail Federation in 2014 for her achievements in her field and making a major contribution to the retail industry and received the Community Service Award from the Dallas Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi in 2020. Thomas also sits on the board for Feed the Children and is on the marketing task force for Texas Christian University.

The married mother of three earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Texas Christian University and her Master of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of North Texas.