A former executive director of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association's Section Five and a longtime soccer official, Theodore R. Woods '53 served North Rose-Wolcott School as a teacher, coach and administrator for 35 years.
Woods, a Wolcott, N.Y., native, was a Red Letter Award winner in soccer at Cortland, where he lettered three seasons and also competed as a member of the track team in the Penn Relays. He served on the House of Delegates and was president of the Men's Athletic Association. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in physical education and later earned a master's degree at Syracuse University.
After serving with the U.S. Marines, where he attained the rank of First Lieutenant, Woods was hired at North Rose Central in 1956 to teach physical education. He coached varsity soccer and basketball for 17 years, baseball for eight years and track for five years. He was administrative assistant to the superintendent, athletic director and, for 18 years, high school principal.
Always active in the Wayne County League, Woods is a former president of both the New York State Soccer Officials and New York State Intercollegiate Soccer Officials organizations. He was the New York State Soccer Officials' 1994 Official of the Year and in 1996 was inducted into the New York High School Soccer Hall of Fame.
Within his community, Woods was a member of the North Rose Fire Department for 35 years and served as treasurer for 24 of those years. He was also a member of the Sodus Hospital Board of Directors, the North Rose Lions Club, and coached American Legion Baseball and summer soccer. Ted Woods Awards have been created by the North Rose-Wolcott School and the Wayne County Board of Soccer Officials, while Section Five awards a Ted Woods Scholarship.
He and his wife, Norma, have three children: Ann, Michael and Matthew.
UPDATE: Woods passed away on March 29, 2020 at age 88.
