Charles Woods (politician)
Charles Woods | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
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| Died |
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| Political party | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Occupation | Businessman, broadcaster, politician |
Charles Woods (September 30, 1920 – October 17, 2004) was a businessman and broadcaster, and an aspiring politician.
Early life[edit | edit source]
Charles's[1] (born Charles Arthur Morris) divorced mother was unable to support her young son so she placed him in a state orphanage when he was five years old.
Military career[edit | edit source]
Charles Woods was carrying 28,000 pounds (12.7 tons) of aviation fuel to Lulaing, China, during World War II. Having made the trip alone, hundreds of times, this time the bomber exploded on takeoff. He had severe burns over 70% of his body. The fire erased his face, destroying his nose, eyelids, ears and hands.
Woods was dying and needed new skin. In desperation, skin was taken from a recently deceased soldier (with the family's permission) and draped onto Woods's[2]. This "foreign" skin would normally have been rejected by his immune system within a week – too soon for his own skin to grow back – but the new skin survived for nearly two months, buying just enough time to save his life.
Radio and politics[edit | edit source]
Woods began a very successful career in construction and in radio and television stations. He built a multimillion-dollar empire in franchises all over the country. He owned WTVY in Dothan, Alabama from its early years until 2000, in addition to other radio and television stations. He ran for governor and lieutenant governor of Alabama, once running against George Wallace. He was known for his long-form self-purchased television campaign commercials.
He came close to winning the Democratic nomination for Alabama Lieutenant Governor in 1974, leading in the first round of voting but losing in a runoff to incumbent Jere Beasley.
In Nevada, he had a respectable performance in the Democratic primary against Harry Reid in 1992, although Reid won re-election in the primary and the general election. Woods also sought the Democratic nomination for president in 1992 as a long-shot candidate. He showed best in North Dakota, winning 20.26% after write-in winner Ross Perot, Lyndon LaRouche and before eventual nominee and President of the United States Bill Clinton.[3] His presidential bid slogan was The Businessman's Approach.[4]
Woods then ran in the Republican primaries for US Senate elections in Nevada in 1994 and Alabama in 1996, but lost in the primaries both times. In 2000 and 2002, he won the Democratic nominations to run in Alabama's second Congressional district, and was defeated by Republican Terry Everett twice. [5] Despite the intense suffering he underwent, he always said, "I consider myself an ordinary man greatly blessed by God."[citation needed]
Retirement[edit | edit source]
Woods lived in Dothan until his death in 2004. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ CHARL zizz
- ↑ WOOD zizz
- ↑ Our Campaigns – ND US President – D Primary Race – Jun 09, 1992
- ↑ "Library & Archives of New Hampshire's Political Tradition". Archived from the original on 2008-03-04. Retrieved 2007-12-05.
- ↑ Our Campaigns – Candidate – Charles Woods
External links[edit | edit source]
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