Alumnus and steady campus supporter James D. Woods ’67 (B.A. business administration) died Feb. 4.
The former CEO of Baker Hughes Inc. began his career while attending night classes at the then-fledgling campus that would become Cal State Fullerton. He once said, “My career wouldn’t have been possible without the CSU system.”
He gave back to his alma mater by supporting a number of campus programs for more than 25 years.
His name and that of his wife, Jeanette, grace the Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting, in which they gave the original pledge of $500,000 in 2013. Woods was a contributor and served on the cabinet for the $15 million Campaign for the College of Business and Economics, and was a member of Mihaylo’s Dean’s Advisory Board. Woods also co-chaired the campaign for the Titan Sports Complex and served as president of the Titan Athletic Foundation. In addition, he was a member of the University Advisory Board and of the President’s Advisory Board.
In 2006, Woods was honored with an honorary doctorate of humane letters in recognition of his success as a business leader and philanthropist. Even earlier, the university recognized all that he had done as a Titan during the university’s 2000 Vision & Visionaries gala and as a 1980 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.
Woods is survived by his wife, daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was recently preceded in death by his son.