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William Mannering Woods '37

May. 5, 1915-Jun. 12, 2006

William Mannering Woods ’37, a retired publishing company executive, was born on May 5, 1915, to Roger H. and Marian Jennings Woods in Mt. Vernon, NY. He came to College Hill in 1933 from Greenwich, CT, as a graduate of Greenwich High School, and joined Delta Kappa Epsilon. Known for his lively repartee and quickness with a comeback, he went out for baseball and managed the fencing team.

Following his graduation as an English literature major in 1937, Bill Woods was employed in New York City by the Hazeltine Corp., an electronics firm engaged in the development of television. He also clerked in a law office while attending law school at night. In 1941, his reserve unit, the old New York 7th Regiment, was federalized and called to active duty, and he would remain in uniform throughout World War II. Commissioned as an officer in the Coast Artillery and assigned to an anti-aircraft battalion, he served two years in the European theater. In 1943, before Lt. Woods went overseas, he and Anne E. Chilson were married in Chicago, IL.

Discharged in early 1946 as a captain, Bill Woods settled in Chicago, where he went to work for Time Inc. as a member of the editorial production staff of Time and Life magazines. Because Time’s branch office in Chicago provided little opportunity for advancement, he left it in 1948 to join a small local firm that published three business magazines. Engaged primarily in marketing, he eventually became administrative vice president and a part owner of Medalist Publications, Inc. After it was sold to Cahners Publishing Co. in 1966, he stayed on as vice president until his retirement in 1985. For two years longer as a consultant, he worked on special marketing projects for the company.

Bill Woods, a resident of suburban Wilmette, enjoyed spending time at a second home on a lake in southern Wisconsin. There he found pleasure in sailing and fishing, as well as swimming and water-skiing. With his second wife, the former Marian Buerkle, he also enjoyed travel ranging from Europe to Alaska and Hawaii, and including an African safari.

William M. Woods, a devoted alumnus, was residing in Bradenton, FL, when he died on June 12, 2006, at the age of 91. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two stepchildren, Bruce A. Johnston and Janice J. Hooker, and two step-grandchildren.

Necrology Home

Note: Memorial biographies published prior to 2004 will not appear on this list.



Necrology Writer and Contact:
Christopher Wilkinson '68
Email: Chris.Wilkinson@mail.wvu.edu

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