Minor, taking a summer course and one full session during the years 1886 and 1887. Coming to Roanoke to practice his profession in the summer of 1887, he formed a law partnership with C. B. Moomaw, under the firm name of Moomaw & Woods, which partnership continued until he was appointed by Governor McKinney Judge of the Corporation Court for the city of Roanoke, in 1892. In 1889 John W. Woods was elected to the General Assembly of Virginia to represent the counties of Roanoke, Craig and the city of Roanoke. During this session of the legislature many important acts were passed, and during this session also a strong friendship was formed between John W. Woods and Philip W. McKinney, who after he became Governor, and upon the resignation of Judge William Gordon Robertson, took much pleasure in making John W. Woods "Judge Woods. court. Judge Woods remained on the bench from 1892 until February 1, 1909. During that time Roanoke grew from a city of less than 18,000 to nearly 40,000, and during that time innumerable controversies arose which had to be settled by litigation in his It is proper to state in this connection that in rendering his decisions he manifested such uniform justice and fairness and demeaned himself with such dignity that he rarely failed to gain both the admiration and friendship of those against whom he rendered his decisions. In criminal cases his rulings were always tempered with mercy, and even when the Supreme Court of Virginia reversed him, it was usually the technicalities of the law upon which the opinions of the highest court were based, and not that injustice had been done in the lower court. After Judge Woods retired from the Bench he devoted himself to business pursuits, and to the practice of his profession, forming a law partnership with C. S. McNulty, of the Roanoke bar, which continued until his death, December 23, 1912. Judge Woods was successful in all his business relations. His perfect integrity, his square dealing, and his business sagacity insured the success of any business enterprise with which he was connected. For these reasons his judgment and ability were much in demand. He was elected, in 1903, President of the First National Bank of Rocky Mount, Virginia, and in 1906, president of the City National Bank of Roanoke, Virginia, re maining at the head of both institutions, which have had splendid success, until his death. Judge Woods' personal appearance was stalwart and commanding, standing six feet three inches, weighing two hundred and twenty-five, in May, 1912, no one would have doubted that he would live to be "three score and ten." No man in Roanoke city or county ever more truly commanded the admiration of the people than Judge Woods. After he retired from the bench, Judge Woods made up his mind to spend the balance of his life in the practice of his profession, in business pursuits, and the enjoyment of his home life. His home was a beautiful and most hospitable one. John W. Woods and Miss Minnie P. Staples were married on December 4, 1900. Their married life was most congenial, and since 1904 their home at 1245 Clark avenue, Roanoke, Virginia, was a model of domestic happiness. Judge Woods had no children himself, but he knew and loved, and was beloved by every child in his neighborhood. So firmly fixed was Judge Woods' integrity and manhood in the minds of the people, that when political clouds seemed to overshadow the fair city of Roanoke, the eyes of the good people turned to him, and while he did so with great reluctance, he consented to be their candidate, and was, in June, 1912, elected Mayor of Roanoke, taking his seat September 1, 1912. During the month of September he was not well, and on September 28th took to his bed, and grew slowly worse until his death, December 23, 1912. During his last illness he displayed that manhood and fortitude that marked him as a man. From his sick bed he sent one message to the City Council of the City of Roanoke, filled with wisdom, for the financial and general welfare of the city. We can point to him as the type of man Roanoke can produce. He was a man whose life was commanding through force of his superb character. He loved right and virtue for right's own sake. He fitted and adorned every place in public life he held. "Virtue alone outbuilds the Pyramids; Her monuments shall last, when Egypt's fall." C. S. MCNULTY. FORMER PRESIDENTS *WILLIAM J. ROBERTSON. 1888-'89. *R. G. H. KEAN, *EDWARD C. BURKS, *J. RANDOLPH TUCKER, 1891-'92. RO. T. BARTON, 1892-'93. *WALLER R. STAPLES, *CHARLES M. BLACKFORD, 1894-'95. ROBERT M. HUGHES, *WILLIAM WIRT HENRY, *WILLIAM B. PETTIT, *JOHN GOODE, 1898-'99. *WILLIAM J. LEAKE. WILLIAM A. ANDERSON, LUNSFORD L. LEWIS, *THOMAS C. ELDER, SAMUEL C. GRAHAM, ALEXANDER HAMILTON, 1903-1904. ALFRED P. THOM, 1904-1905. |