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NAPLES — Hodges University has named John R. Wood as Humanitarian of the Year for his civic endeavors in the region.
“The annual award recognizes those citizens who exemplify the spirit of benevolence and public service in the Naples community,” says Philip Memoli, vice president of university advancement for Hodges University, in a statement. “This is the 17th year in which Hodges University has bestowed the award upon a local individual or couple.”
Wood obtained his real estate license and founded John R. Wood Realtors in 1958. The firm began with one employee and a small office on Fifth Avenue South in Naples. Today, John R. Wood Realtors is the oldest major real estate business in Southwest Florida with 10 offices from Marco Island to Sanibel and Captiva and more than $1.5 billion in annual sales.
Originally from Arkadelphia, Ark., Wood served in the Navy on several ships, including a destroyer and an aircraft carrier. Later, he earned a bachelor's degree from Henderson State College and a law degree from the University of Arkansas. Upon graduation, he practiced law while his wife, Wanda, taught school. Their son, Phil, was born in 1955.
In search of a warmer climate, the couple headed to Florida in 1957 with $4,000 and a Plymouth station wagon. They arrived in St. Petersburg, but later decided on Naples after visiting the area.
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