Brookland-Cayce High School EDUCATOR HALL OF FAME
MR. HERBERT A. WOOD Inducted 2004
Mr. Herbert A. Wood grew up in Oconee County and graduated from Clemson University in 1937. He began his career as a teacher of Industrial Arts and Textiles at Ninety Six High School. One year later, he was hired by Brookland-Cayce High School to start the school's first Industrial Arts Shop. He taught at B-C until 1942, when he entered the U.S. military in World War II as a Lieutenant. He was in military service until 1945, when he returned to become Principal of Brookland-Cayce High School. In 1958 Herbert Wood became Director of Instruction for the B-C System. Mr. Wood became Superintendent of Lexington District Two in 1967 and served in this capacity until his retirement in 1981. Mr. Wood's career in education spanned 44 years. During his tenure as Superintendent three schools were constructed; Busbee Middle School, Pine Ridge Middle School and Pine Ridge Elementary School. Other schools saw classrooms added under his leadership. Following his retirement, Pine Ridge Elementary School was renamed Herbert A. Wood Elementary School in his honor. He was a charter member of the Palmetto Teachers Association, and was named Superintendent of the Year by the SC School Boards Association in 1971. Herbert Wood was very active in his community and especially in his church, Holland Avenue Baptist Church, and the mission church they started, Riverbluff Baptist Church. He was active in his retirement, a devoted Christian leader, motivator and a positive influence to all who knew him. He was married to Floride Stevenson Wood, and they had two children, Bert and Nancy Marsella. Mr. Wood died September 27, 1997 at the age of 81. Mr. Jerry Chitty, a Lexington District Two Trustee who worked under Wood recalled, "He was a very down-to-earth person. He was the ultimate as far as supporting his people, from a janitor to a principal to an assistant superintendent. He was a wonderful manager of money to the point that we were always in good shape financially. He worked hard, and he demanded hard work." Mr Wood's contributions to Brookland-Cayce High School and Lexington District Two will live on in the many lives he touched through the years.

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