Member Profile  By James H. Shott, III

 December 9, 2004

Richard J. "Dick" Wood

The first of December’s profiles focuses on Richard J. Wood, who just celebrated his 90^th birthday on November 30. Dick is a native of Bluefield, West Virginia, who attended Auburn University after finishing his basic education in local schools. At Auburn he earned a BS in Electrical Engineering, then returned to Bluefield and went to work for Appalachian Power Company, beginning a long career in engineering.

During WWII, Dick left Appalachian to serve in the U.S. Army Signal Corps as a radar instructor, and worked in setting up radar warning systems. He served in England and Australia, and left the Army in 1946 with the rank of Major, and rejoined Appalachian Power, where he remained until 1961. Dick served as Assistant District Manager for both the Welch and Bluefield districts during his years with APCO.

He and Elizabeth Pritchett (Lib), a Virginia-side girl, were married in 1947, and have raised three children, Diana Gestner, who is a dentist living in Birmingham, Ala.; David, a Presbyterian minister in Richmond, Va.; and Hugh, an attorney in Atlanta, Ga. “The Lord has been good to me,” Dick said, referring to his family and having such a good life for these 90 years.

He first joined Rotary in 1952 while he was working for APCO in Welch, and joined the Bluefield club after being transferred here in 1957. Dick served as a Director in both the Welch and Bluefield clubs, as District Governor in 1993-94, and believes that Rotary is a very special organization, citing the excellent work the Rotary Foundation does around the world. “Rotary has been a real inspiration for me,” he said. “As District Governor, I was able to take Lib with me on the club visits. You are exposed to, and meet some wonderful people,” he said.

Dick is a registered Engineer, a member and past President and past State Director of the Southeast Chapter of the West Virginia Society of Professional Engineers, and was Engineer of the Year in 1969. He has served in a number of civic and professional organizations, and on corporate boards, including the Bluefield State College Advisory Committee, the Bluefield College Board of Trustees, the First National (First Century) Bank Board of Directors, the McDowell County United Appeal, the Bluefield United Fund, the Bluefield Country Club, the Pocahontas Electrical and Mechanical Institute and the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce. He also was the Commander of the Riley-Vest Post of the American Legion, and an Elder at the First Presbyterian Church in Bluefield.

In 1960, Dick co-founded Pemco Corporation in Bluefield, Va., and served as its president until he retired in 1984. The company began by designing a silicon power rectifier that made it possible for small coal operators to mine out-crop coal in abandoned mines, and is still in business today.

With 90 years of living and 52 years as a Rotarian, Dick Woods is a very special man, and a true asset to our club.