Colorado State University Athletics
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11/9/2023 2:00:00 PM | Football
Veterans Day Salute: Remembering Col Bill Woods
If you ever spent any time in the former athletes lounge at Hughes Stadium on a gameday, you were sure to hear somebody say, "Colonel, how are you today?" or "Hello Colonel Woods!" Many CSU faithful knew Bill Woods as "The Colonel," but maybe not all knew what he meant to CSU as a retired US Army Colonel. Woods helped preserve a tradition at CSU which lives on today and was a two-time alumni award winner. On Sept. 7, 2023, Bill passed away at the age of 87, so we look back on his contribution to CSU and his military career as we salute our veterans this week.
William B. Woods was born on March 14, 1936, in Fort Collins and was raised in Loveland where he attended Loveland High School playing multiple sports. His father, William A. Woods attended Colorado Agricultural College in 1928, playing football and was a member of the SAE fraternity. The younger Bill Woods was a freshman at Colorado A&M in 1954, playing football and running track for the Rams. An injury to his leg knocked him off his feet for six months and his football career ended too soon.
Bill found his niche not only in track and field, but as a member of the SAE fraternity and also in the military science department. He met a cheerleader named Janice who he married in 1957, one year before he graduated in 1958. From there Bill decided to pursue a career in the military settling with the 4th Infantry Medical Battalion. He received his master's degree in education from Trinity University along with a master's degree from Baylor in Hospital Administration.
Bill served in the 4th Infantry as a hospital administrator, serving one tour of duty in Vietnam while his wife Jan remained home in San Antonio with their two sons Greg and Brad. Bill retired as a Colonel after 25 years in the Army and he moved back to Fort Collins where his sons also attended and also graduated from CSU. After arriving in Fort Collins, Bill met with one of his former assistant coaches, Fum McGraw, who at the time was the athletic director at their alma mater.
Bill asked Fum what he could do to help CSU now that he had come back home, Fum said he would think about what Bill could do for CSU. A day later, the legendary McGraw called Bill back and asked if he would organize and run the annual painting of the "A" moniker for the school. It had not been painted in recent years, so Bill took on a 33-year passion to organize the crew that painted the "A", now on the clock annually. Nobody better to organize this than a retired colonel. Â Ironically, Bill's dad also was among those who painted the "A" back in 1928, a photo of his father's class painting the moniker hangs in his home.
Bill Woods did more than just organize the painting of the "A," he and his wife Jan also traveled to every bowl game played by the CSU Rams since 1990. They both would greet you at the west entrance of Hughes Stadium on gameday, Bill standing close to the former athletes lounge seeing many of his fellow alums. They had season tickets from the time they arrived back in Fort Collins to today and were named the 2004 Larry LaSasso Spirit Award winners and in 2009 won the Jim and Nadine Henry Distinguished Alumni Award.
Another of Bill's passions was his commitment to his former fraternity, SAE. Bill not only oversaw the local chapter as an advisor for 30 years, but he also served as the national president for SAE for two years. Â A brick from the old SAE house was given to him as thanks to his many years working with the SAE chapter.
One of Bill's greatest accomplishments that gave back to his community was his involvement in establishing the Northern Colorado Honor Flight. The Honor Flight takes thousands of veterans from all over the nation of every era to Washington DC to see the monuments and city in a two-day tour. Bill helped establish the Northern Colorado Honor Flight and it was not until 2019 when he finally was able to take the trip himself, just before the COVID shutdown.
Bill Woods was among the 100s of former CSU student-athletes that have served in our military since the Spanish American War era. He was among the elite who made a career out of the military and not only gave back to his alma mater, but also to the Fort Collins community. We salute Bill and all others who served in our military on this Veteran's Day Week.
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William B. Woods was born on March 14, 1936, in Fort Collins and was raised in Loveland where he attended Loveland High School playing multiple sports. His father, William A. Woods attended Colorado Agricultural College in 1928, playing football and was a member of the SAE fraternity. The younger Bill Woods was a freshman at Colorado A&M in 1954, playing football and running track for the Rams. An injury to his leg knocked him off his feet for six months and his football career ended too soon.
Bill found his niche not only in track and field, but as a member of the SAE fraternity and also in the military science department. He met a cheerleader named Janice who he married in 1957, one year before he graduated in 1958. From there Bill decided to pursue a career in the military settling with the 4th Infantry Medical Battalion. He received his master's degree in education from Trinity University along with a master's degree from Baylor in Hospital Administration.
Bill served in the 4th Infantry as a hospital administrator, serving one tour of duty in Vietnam while his wife Jan remained home in San Antonio with their two sons Greg and Brad. Bill retired as a Colonel after 25 years in the Army and he moved back to Fort Collins where his sons also attended and also graduated from CSU. After arriving in Fort Collins, Bill met with one of his former assistant coaches, Fum McGraw, who at the time was the athletic director at their alma mater.
Bill asked Fum what he could do to help CSU now that he had come back home, Fum said he would think about what Bill could do for CSU. A day later, the legendary McGraw called Bill back and asked if he would organize and run the annual painting of the "A" moniker for the school. It had not been painted in recent years, so Bill took on a 33-year passion to organize the crew that painted the "A", now on the clock annually. Nobody better to organize this than a retired colonel. Â Ironically, Bill's dad also was among those who painted the "A" back in 1928, a photo of his father's class painting the moniker hangs in his home.
Bill Woods did more than just organize the painting of the "A," he and his wife Jan also traveled to every bowl game played by the CSU Rams since 1990. They both would greet you at the west entrance of Hughes Stadium on gameday, Bill standing close to the former athletes lounge seeing many of his fellow alums. They had season tickets from the time they arrived back in Fort Collins to today and were named the 2004 Larry LaSasso Spirit Award winners and in 2009 won the Jim and Nadine Henry Distinguished Alumni Award.
Another of Bill's passions was his commitment to his former fraternity, SAE. Bill not only oversaw the local chapter as an advisor for 30 years, but he also served as the national president for SAE for two years. Â A brick from the old SAE house was given to him as thanks to his many years working with the SAE chapter.
One of Bill's greatest accomplishments that gave back to his community was his involvement in establishing the Northern Colorado Honor Flight. The Honor Flight takes thousands of veterans from all over the nation of every era to Washington DC to see the monuments and city in a two-day tour. Bill helped establish the Northern Colorado Honor Flight and it was not until 2019 when he finally was able to take the trip himself, just before the COVID shutdown.
Bill Woods was among the 100s of former CSU student-athletes that have served in our military since the Spanish American War era. He was among the elite who made a career out of the military and not only gave back to his alma mater, but also to the Fort Collins community. We salute Bill and all others who served in our military on this Veteran's Day Week.
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