Trent Wood obit

[Robert Coker]

Many will remember Trent Wood from Memphis TV.

 

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/commercialappeal/obituary.aspx?n=h-trent-wood&pid=170510426

H. TRENT WOOD

H. Trent Wood Trent was born on June 1, 1925 in Louisville, Kentucky and passed peacefully with his loving family on April 2, 2014 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Trent was a wonderful father and husband to his loving wife Mae of 57 years and their two sons Stewart and Linden. Trent is also survived by Linden's fiancée Cindy Gildersleeve, 2 grandchildren, Jasmine and R. Trent. He also leaves two younger brothers in Memphis, Jerry Wood and his wife Barta and their 3 children Debra, Steve and Tracy and Don Wood and his wife Bev and their 3 children JT, Laurie, Suzanne. Trent was fortunate enough to have had 3 careers in his lifetime: His 1st career was as a Television Broadcaster in Memphis for over 20 years. His 2nd career for 28 years was in Investment Banking and the 3rd career was in Telecommunications Sales as a motivational speaker for 9 years working with his two sons Linden and Stewart. He proudly served in the US Army for 3 years during WWII and was a Staff Sergeant in the 178th Combat Engineer Battalion. He fought with General George S. Patton's 3rd Army in Europe - receiving 4 Battle Stars, one of which was for participating in the "Battle of the Bulge". Trent attended school in Memphis, Tennessee, graduating from Central High School before going on to earn a B.A. in Economics from Southwestern College, now known as Rhodes College. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. During college, Trent had been a radio announcer at WHBQ, but when television became available to Memphis, he quickly switched to TV in late 1948. Thus, his 1st career started at NBC affiliate, WMC-TV Channel 5 where he worked for 20 years. He did everything from News Telecasts to weather, sports and was very active with doing commercials. He had the pleasure of introducing a young man by the name of Elvis Presley for his TV debut in December 1954, at the annual "Goodfellow's" Christmas talent show during the wrestling matches held at Ellis Auditorium. WMC-TV telecast the wrestling matches every Monday night. There was a crowd of approximately 10,000 in attendance to not only watch the wrestling matches, but to see the various talent acts from all over the Mid-South. Ten different acts appeared in the ring between matches, but none got the applause that Elvis received that night. None of us could have foreseen the level of success that Elvis achieved. Trent always said that Elvis was one of the nicest and most polite men you could ever meet. Bob Johnson, reporting in the Memphis Press Scimitar in 1964, reported that Trent was the "most seen" broadcaster on Television in the Mid-South area. Bob said he was working up to 70 hours each week. From an 8 a.m. newscast on WMC radio, Monday through Friday, he also emceed a TV cooking show at noon, 5 days a week. He had an hour-long children’s program from 4 - 5 p.m. called "Looney Zoo" 5 days a week for 16 years. Over 400,000 children appeared on the “Looney Zoo” program. He also worked a 6-hour shift a day as a staff announcer. Trent was a well-known emcee of beauty pageants all over the 5 State coverage area. Trent was also emcee on a Saturday morning show called "Pride of the Southland" for 15 years. Talent from all over the Mid-South area came to perform. In 1956 Trent was invited to become the first commentator for the summer concerts in the Memphis Overton Park Shell, introducing selections for the 50-piece Memphis Concert Orchestra, led by Noel Gilbert. Each week saw various entertainers, from the Broadway Stage to the Metropolitan Opera, joining the orchestra in entertaining the large crowds in attendance. He narrated these concerts for 12 years. Trent's 2nd career was in a totally different field: Investment Banking. He was President of Wood Bros. Investments, Memphis, Tennessee and New York City from 1970 to 1976. He made quite a successful career move in May of 1976, moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma with his wife Mae and their two sons, Stewart and Linden, to continue his Investment Banking Career. Trent worked at Liberty National Bank in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. He was VP and Senior Municipal Trader in the Investment Banking Division. He bought and sold tax-free municipal bonds on the wholesale level for the sales force and handled the bidding and the underwriting of new issues coming to market. He was with The First National Bank of Tulsa as they merged with Liberty National Bank of Oklahoma City in 1984 which later became Chase Bank. He retired from the bank September 1, 1996. After Trent retired from his 2nd career he went to work with his sons Linden and Stewart at Linden's company WorldConnect Communications. Trent was SVP at WorldConnect for 9 years during which time both Trent and his wife traveled the United States going to Marketing meetings and conventions and speaking in front of thousands of people about his life and about success. He was a very motivational speaker and helped build WorldConnect Communications into a 40+ Million Dollar company. His favorite place to speak was always coming home to Memphis. His mother was Jennie Link Wood and his father was Dr. Howard Thomas Wood, who was the very respected Sr. minister of Lindenwood Christian Church in Memphis for 35 years. In 1952 Dr. Wood served as President of the worldwide "Disciples of Christ" denomination and traveled the world on a speaking tour. hile in Memphis, Trent served on the Board of Directors of the downtown Memphis Kiwanis Club and President of the Forest Lakes Home Owners Association. He was also President of the Twin Points Condominium Association in Hot Springs Arkansas and a deacon at the Central Christian Church in Memphis. Trent was a member of the Oklahoma Securities Dealers Association. Trent and his wife were also long time members of the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane Club. Trent was a tremendous enthusiast of Jazz music and Western art. He was very patriotic, loved the United States and did not tolerate negative talk about his country. With a quick sense of humor and unflinching love of life he was always extremely positive and an inspiration to many, especially his family, even during his last 11 days in the hospital. There will be a private family service at Floral Haven in Tulsa, OK on Saturday April 5th. If you wish to sign the guest book and leave comments you are welcome to visit Floral Haven’s website www.floralhaven.com. Another one of the much beloved “greatest generation” is gone but never forgotten! A life well lived! H. Trent Wood RIP. Memorials can be made to a charity of your choice . Floral Haven Funeral Home 918-252-2518

Published in The Commercial Appeal on Apr. 6, 2014

 

[kitru...@gmail.com]

Robert,

Thank you for forwarding this obituary. I worked with Trent Wood during my first years with Memphis’s WMC. I was on the studio crews that staffed Looney Zoo, the Saturday morning talent shows, and the many commercials for which Trent did the talent. 

These Memphis television talents from a generation ago are all leaving us. I understand that Dick Hawley died a year or two ago. Norman Brewer is gone, and someone told me recently that Peggy Rolfes was dead. I saw a photograph of Jack Eaton not too long ago, and he looks old and feeble. I guess that we are confronted with the truth that a time passes…

Once again, Thank you…  and keep smilin’

-kit

On Apr 6, 2014, at 11:51 PM, Robert Coker <robertl...@comcast.net> wrote:

Many will remember Trent Wood from Memphis TV.

 

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/commercialappeal/obituary.aspx?n=h-trent-wood&pid=170510426

H. TRENT WOOD

<image001.jpg>H. Trent Wood Trent was born on June 1, 1925 in Louisville, Kentucky and passed peacefully with his loving family on April 2, 2014 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Trent was a wonderful father and husband to his loving wife Mae of 57 years and their two sons Stewart and Linden. Trent is also survived by Linden's fiancée Cindy Gildersleeve, 2 grandchildren, Jasmine and R. Trent. He also leaves two younger brothers in Memphis, Jerry Wood and his wife Barta and their 3 children Debra, Steve and Tracy and Don Wood and his wife Bev and their 3 children JT, Laurie, Suzanne. Trent was fortunate enough to have had 3 careers in his lifetime: His 1st career was as a Television Broadcaster in Memphis for over 20 years. His 2nd career for 28 years was in Investment Banking and the 3rd career was in Telecommunications Sales as a motivational speaker for 9 years working with his two sons Linden and Stewart. He proudly served in the US Army for 3 years during WWII and was a Staff Sergeant in the 178th Combat Engineer Battalion. He fought with General George S. Patton's 3rd Army in Europe - receiving 4 Battle Stars, one of which was for participating in the "Battle of the Bulge". Trent attended school in Memphis, Tennessee, graduating from Central High School before going on to earn a B.A. in Economics from Southwestern College, now known as Rhodes College. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. During college, Trent had been a radio announcer at WHBQ, but when television became available to Memphis, he quickly switched to TV in late 1948. Thus, his 1st career started at NBC affiliate, WMC-TV Channel 5 where he worked for 20 years. He did everything from News Telecasts to weather, sports and was very active with doing commercials. He had the pleasure of introducing a young man by the name of Elvis Presley for his TV debut in December 1954, at the annual "Goodfellow's" Christmas talent show during the wrestling matches held at Ellis Auditorium. WMC-TV telecast the wrestling matches every Monday night. There was a crowd of approximately 10,000 in attendance to not only watch the wrestling matches, but to see the various talent acts from all over the Mid-South. Ten different acts appeared in the ring between matches, but none got the applause that Elvis received that night. None of us could have foreseen the level of success that Elvis achieved. Trent always said that Elvis was one of the nicest and most polite men you could ever meet. Bob Johnson, reporting in the Memphis Press Scimitar in 1964, reported that Trent was the "most seen" broadcaster on Television in the Mid-South area. Bob said he was working up to 70 hours each week. From an 8 a.m. newscast on WMC radio, Monday through Friday, he also emceed a TV cooking show at noon, 5 days a week. He had an hour-long children’s program from 4 - 5 p.m. called "Looney Zoo" 5 days a week for 16 years. Over 400,000 children appeared on the “Looney Zoo” program. He also worked a 6-hour shift a day as a staff announcer. Trent was a well-known emcee of beauty pageants all over the 5 State coverage area. Trent was also emcee on a Saturday morning show called "Pride of the Southland" for 15 years. Talent from all over the Mid-South area came to perform. In 1956 Trent was invited to become the first commentator for the summer concerts in the Memphis Overton Park Shell, introducing selections for the 50-piece Memphis Concert Orchestra, led by Noel Gilbert. Each week saw various entertainers, from the Broadway Stage to the Metropolitan Opera, joining the orchestra in entertaining the large crowds in attendance. He narrated these concerts for 12 years. Trent's 2nd career was in a totally different field: Investment Banking. He was President of Wood Bros. Investments, Memphis, Tennessee and New York City from 1970 to 1976. He made quite a successful career move in May of 1976, moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma with his wife Mae and their two sons, Stewart and Linden, to continue his Investment Banking Career. Trent worked at Liberty National Bank in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. He was VP and Senior Municipal Trader in the Investment Banking Division. He bought and sold tax-free municipal bonds on the wholesale level for the sales force and handled the bidding and the underwriting of new issues coming to market. He was with The First National Bank of Tulsa as they merged with Liberty National Bank of Oklahoma City in 1984 which later became Chase Bank. He retired from the bank September 1, 1996. After Trent retired from his 2nd career he went to work with his sons Linden and Stewart at Linden's company WorldConnect Communications. Trent was SVP at WorldConnect for 9 years during which time both Trent and his wife traveled the United States going to Marketing meetings and conventions and speaking in front of thousands of people about his life and about success. He was a very motivational speaker and helped build WorldConnect Communications into a 40+ Million Dollar company. His favorite place to speak was always coming home to Memphis. His mother was Jennie Link Wood and his father was Dr. Howard Thomas Wood, who was the very respected Sr. minister of Lindenwood Christian Church in Memphis for 35 years. In 1952 Dr. Wood served as President of the worldwide "Disciples of Christ" denomination and traveled the world on a speaking tour. hile in Memphis, Trent served on the Board of Directors of the downtown Memphis Kiwanis Club and President of the Forest Lakes Home Owners Association. He was also President of the Twin Points Condominium Association in Hot Springs Arkansas and a deacon at the Central Christian Church in Memphis. Trent was a member of the Oklahoma Securities Dealers Association. Trent and his wife were also long time members of the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane Club. Trent was a tremendous enthusiast of Jazz music and Western art. He was very patriotic, loved the United States and did not tolerate negative talk about his country. With a quick sense of humor and unflinching love of life he was always extremely positive and an inspiration to many, especially his family, even during his last 11 days in the hospital. There will be a private family service at Floral Haven in Tulsa, OK on Saturday April 5th. If you wish to sign the guest book and leave comments you are welcome to visit Floral Haven’s websitewww.floralhaven.com. Another one of the much beloved “greatest generation” is gone but never forgotten! A life well lived! H. Trent Wood RIP. Memorials can be made to a charity of your choice . Floral Haven Funeral Home 918-252-2518

Published in The Commercial Appeal on Apr. 6, 2014

 

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Cubs63" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email tocubs63+un...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cub...@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cubs63.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[Margaret Macdonald]

Robert and Jeanne, thank you both for the memories.  Times do go on Kit.  

Jeanne, you were easy to spot, not so much for the red dress, but for your beautiful eyes.  

Trent Wood had a name right out of the thirties movies.  I remember that he had a rich deep voice.  

[Gene Fulghum]

His father had a tremendous impact on my family.

[Paul Sisco]

Kit,

 

You should read the tributes to Trent Wood at the following web site.  Some are from your former colleagues at WMC.

 

I don’t remember Trent, but I do remember Wink Martindale, who wrote one of the tributes.

 

http://www.floralhaven.com/obituaries/Trent-Wood/

 

Gene mentioned that Trent’s father, who was minister at Lindenwood, was a big influence on his family.  Gene, would you care to tell us some of the things he did that helped you folks?

 

Mention of your really good preacher made me look up the good preacher at Union Ave. Church of Christ when I was a boy, Alonzo Welch.  I found out he just died last year at age 95.  The congregation suffered after he left to start a children’s home in Mississippi.  His replacement was a real stinker.  But “Brother Welch”, as we called him, wanted to put his Christianity into practice, and he felt a children’s home was the best way to do that.

 

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/clarionledger/obituary.aspx?pid=165864305

 

Paul

[Gene Fulghum]

Dr. H.T. Wood was a remarkable preacher and church leader.  I can still remember two of his sermons - that he gave ever year -  "What I Believe" and "Drifting down the River of Life"   The first was simply statements of his theology - starting with "I believe in God".  The Christian (Disciples of Christ) Church was not one that emphasized Dogma.  Dr. Wood's only dogmatic statement was that anyone that called Christ, "my Lord and Savior" was his brother or sister, and frankly nothing else much mattered.  But, in addition to the Trinity, he also believed in family, Country, loyalty, and integrity.   In his sermon on "Drifting" he said there were two life situations - either you are drifting and being carried somewhere (sometimes to the backwaters) or you are actively rowing to reach a goal.  He'd asked are you drifting in your ___?  You could drift in your job, your marriage, your Church and find yourself in that backwater, where you won't get anywhere and eventually you drown.  But you still, if you wanted to badly enough row yourself out.  

 

My Mom and Dad attended the Church he pastored, beginning during World War II, when it was downtown and called Linden Avenue Christian Church.  Both were still active members when they died.  The Church moved to what was then East Memphis, Union Avenue, in the late fifties, grew and grew and became one of the largest churches in Memphis.   The drive was 30 to 45 minutes each way, but it was always made at least twice and sometimes 3 times each week.  Dr. Wood was always present at any of the Church functions and was truly loved.  I'm sure, like any minister he had his detractors, but they never spoke out publicly.  He would come to our little league baseball games as well as very Sunday night dinner.  He went and participated at my first wedding in Laurel, Ms, and had he still been alive, I'm sure he would have come to my second in NJ.  

Following up on his act would have been difficult in any event, but the Church didn't choose well.  The next Pastor, I believe, was "ridden out of town on a rail."  My Father, rarely said anything negative, but he did give an example.  Some of you may know that my father, not only taught school, coached, and ran summer camps, but he also had a highly productive garden, perhaps due to the organic fertilizer produced by our horses and cows.  He would work in that garden every morning and evening, and when the produce came in, what we didn't eat was mostly given away or sometimes sold to the local supermarket.  He would always take produce to the Pastor.  Dr. Wood would share it among the Church's staff.  His successor would hoard it for himself.  At least once or twice he hoarded it, but then it stopped coming to him and went directly to the staff.

It took forty years until I again had a pastor like Dr. Wood.  Unfortunately our current UMC pastor just announced a few weeks ago that she was being bumped up to Superintendent.  She will be missed.