Long-time AMF bowling executive Woody Woodruff dies
03/17/09
Raymond Robert (Woody) Woodruff, a long-time executive with AMF Bowling, died peacefully surrounded by his family on March 13. He was 90.
Born in Highland Falls, N.Y., Woodruff joined AMF in 1945 after serving in the U.S. Navy. He almost immediately became involved with the development of the first AMF Automatic Pinspotter. As a member of the engineering and installation team, he was directly involved in AMF's public introduction of the machine that changed the face of bowling forever in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1946.
The first commercial installation of AMF's Automatic Pinspotter was in 1951 in Mount Clemens, Mich., and six years later, Woodruff personally supervised the installation of machines for the American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament in Fort Worth, Texas.
Woodruff, who retired as Vice President of Marketing for AMF's Bowling Division in 1983 after a 38-year career, created the first AMF Pro Staff, anchored by the signing of Dick Weber as the company's leading ambassador. He worked closely with Professional Bowlers Association founder Eddie Elias in bringing professional bowling to network television.
He was a 10-year member of the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame Board of Trustees, and enthusiastically supported a wide range of organizations and programs to help the sport of bowling thrive.
For his contributions to the sport, the Bowling Writers Association of America presented Woodruff with the organization's Meritorious Service Award in 2005.
Woodruff was predeceased by his wife Arlene in 2006. He is survived by daughter Barbara (Alan) Mandelbaum of Glen Rock, N.Y., three grandchildren, and his brother John Woodruff. Funeral services were held on Monday, March 16 in Wyckoff, N.Y.
The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Grace United Methodist Church, 555 Russell Ave., Wyckoff, N.Y.
Industry News
Raymond Robert (Woody) Woodruff, a long-time executive with AMF Bowling, died peacefully surrounded by his family on March 13. He was 90. Born in Highland Falls, N.Y., Woodruff joined AMF in 1945 after serving in the U.S. Navy. He almost immediately became involved with the development of the first AMF Automatic Pinspotter. As a member of the engineering and installation team, he was directly involved in AMF's public introduction of the machine that changed the face of bowling forever in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1946.
The first commercial installation of AMF's Automatic Pinspotter was in 1951 in Mount Clemens, Mich., and six years later, Woodruff personally supervised the installation of machines for the American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament in Fort Worth, Texas.
Woodruff, who retired as Vice President of Marketing for AMF's Bowling Division in 1983 after a 38-year career, created the first AMF Pro Staff, anchored by the signing of Dick Weber as the company's leading ambassador. He worked closely with Professional Bowlers Association founder Eddie Elias in bringing professional bowling to network television.
He was a 10-year member of the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame Board of Trustees, and enthusiastically supported a wide range of organizations and programs to help the sport of bowling thrive.
For his contributions to the sport, the Bowling Writers Association of America presented Woodruff with the organization's Meritorious Service Award in 2005.
Woodruff was predeceased by his wife Arlene in 2006. He is survived by daughter Barbara (Alan) Mandelbaum of Glen Rock, N.Y., three grandchildren, and his brother John Woodruff. Funeral services were held on Monday, March 16 in Wyckoff, N.Y.
The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Grace United Methodist Church, 555 Russell Ave., Wyckoff, N.Y.