Steven P. J. Wood Ensured His Ideas Will Live On With His Bequest

By Richard Kimble, Senior Development Officer

On September 22, 2005, Young America's Foundation lost a very dear friend when Steven P. J. Wood, 88, of Highland Beach, Florida, passed away in Cannes, France. His generous philanthropic support of the Conservative Movement over the years changed lives and exposed thousands of young people to conservative thought and values.

In May of 1998, one of the largest lecture venues at St. Louis University overflowed with more than 2,500 students and community members eagerly anticipating an address from Lady Margaret Thatcher. The crowd was transfixed by her remarks on what makes America unique. Many young people heard conservative ideas for the very first time at this event. This was possible because of the generosity and foresight of one man: Steven P. J. Wood.

Born on May 2, 1917, in Forsythe, Montana, Steven Pierpont Jeffris Wood grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin. He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, and he attended Princeton University and the University of Chicago. He served our country in World War II as an officer in the 33rd armored division.

Following his discharge from the U.S. Army as a major at the end of World War II, Mr. Wood joined Warner Electric Brake and Clutch Company of South Beloit, Illinois. He lived in Beloit, Wisconsin for many years and retired as chairman of the board from Warner Electric in 1984 when the company was sold. He served on the board of Beloit College and was a philanthropist both locally and nationally. Young America's Foundation was one of many benefactors of Mr. Wood's generosity.

Mr. Wood understood that reaching America's future leaders with conservative ideas was a necessity. He wanted our country's future leaders to receive a solid, balanced education, recognizing that young people on college and high school campuses are rarely exposed to conservatism. Determined to advance his conservative ideas, Mr. Wood sought out Young America's Foundation to make this goal a reality and subsequently created the Steve Wood Lecture Series.

Typically, most conservative groups on college campuses do not receive significant financial support from their schools. As such, it is difficult for them to host a prominent conservative speaker. Since 1997, the Steve Wood Lecture Series has helped alleviate this burden by underwriting a portion of a Foundation speaker's honorarium. Steve Wood lecturers have included Edwin Meese, Robert Novak, Ward Connerly, and this year's speaker, Michelle Malkin. Thousands of additional students have heard from these conservative speakers because of Mr. Wood's generosity and commitment to the advancement of his ideas.

The Steve Wood Lecture Series has and will continue to bring conservative speakers to college campuses. In addition to his previous generosity, Mr. Wood left a legacy of freedom by remembering Young America's Foundation in his trust. His estate gift should be in excess of $2,750,000.

He is survived by his sister, Carolyn Wood Saas; his two daughters, Paula Wood Loud and Susan Wood Bleier; and his five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Our condolences go out to his entire family.

Young America's Foundation will always remember with great fondness and admiration the life of our dear friend, Steven P. J. Wood. His legacy will continue to ensure that future generations of Americans are exposed to his conservative values and ideas.