590 MIGHTY MEMORY #309

CHRISTMAS IN WARM-LAND BEGINS 

Two big Santa parades went on in both Scranton and Wilkes Barre today. Big crowds turned out in both cities and it reminded me of the role WARM Radio played in the Holiday season. WARM had contests, Santa Parades, Coat drives, you name it. WARM’s promotions were legend and in the old days usually started after Thanksgiving. 
At today’s parade WARM Sensational 7 member Tom Woods showed up and is shown here with Paula Deignan-Reynolds the wife of former WARM newsman Bob Reynolds. 

590 MIGHTY MEMORY #310

THE WOODY GUY

 (Photo below: WNEP.com)

 Bob Woody at the Lehman Horse Show circa 1970s. (Photo: Dallas Post)

Word came this week through Social Media that Bob Woody died at the age of 73. Woody was an iconic radio host on WARM, WSCR, WBQW, WBAX and WILK. Woody also did a weekly show on WNEP TV 16 featuring the comedy antics of The Three Stooges.
Later Woody ran a successful ad agency called naturally enough, "The Ad Agency" and was a fierce advocate for his clients.
Woody arrived when I was living in Washington, D.C. in 1972 but I got to know him along with the reputation he was carving out as a radio personality. Years later I worked with him on a regional "Twin Valleys" project to build cultural bridges between Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties. He was someone who challenged you and made you better.
Bob always told me that "If you say you are going to do something, do it". That stuck with me in every endeavor I always took part in. Bob Woody was a great inspiration to people who had the privilege to work with him and know him. He might have died but certainly not his lessons of life. They still live on. Check out other editions of 590 Forever about Bob Woody. 
 http://david-yonki.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html
 http://david-yonki.blogspot.com/2011_06_01_archive.html
Here's his obit: Robert M. Woody, 73, of Pittsburgh, PA, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, October 29, 2016. He was born August 6, 1943, a son of late Maude Woody and Kenneth Woody. He was a man of many talents, in his early years a popular disc jockey & his later years, a business owner, using his unremarkable talents of TV and radio, operating his own company, the Ad Agency. Bob & friend, the great Harry Chapin would do free shows at local events in the Wilkes-Barre Scranton area to raise awareness and money for "World Hunger". Bob became a pilot and was recognized by the FAA for exceeding high education, licensing and medical standards established by the FAA. He was also very involved and a proud supporter of the innovative ideas of Warner Erhard a critical thinker helping individuals, groups & organizations with integrity, performance, leadership and positive transformation. He is survived by his loving wife of many years, Rene LaSpina; brother Kenneth Woody, sister-in-law, Katie, niece Debbie Yankovitch & nephew, Kenny Jr., daughter, Bobbie Ragsdale, son-in-law, Jack Ragsdale, grandfather of Heather Pastor, great grandfather of MacKenzie Suncine & Brandon Suncine. The family would like to thank the staff at the Roswell Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY and oncologist, Dr. Opyrchal. Per Bob's wishes, there will be no viewing or celebration of his life. 
Woody lived on Harrison Avenue in The Hill Section of Scranton for many years. As a deejay he played many songs for his listeners, now we'll send one out to him in that great beyond from one of his favorite people: