Palestine High School Alumni Association

09 / 22 / 1938  –  06 / 10 / 2008

Max Wilson Woodard was born September 22, 1938 in Palestine to Clyde Burette Woodard and Marye Regina McClung Woodard and passed away June 10, 2008 at age 69 in Tyler.

Max grew up in Elkhart and Palestine. He graduated from Palestine High School in 1956. He went to Texas A&M University on a football scholarship where he became a petroleum engineer and played football for legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. While at Texas A&M, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, serving as Company Commander of the C-2 Battalion. He received the Fritz Trophy for being the Outstanding Company Commander and the George Mitchell Award for being the Outstanding Scholastic Senior Petroleum Engineering student.

Upon his graduation in 1961, he received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. After graduating first in his class from the Field Artillery School, he served as a nuclear weapons deployment specialist. After fulfilling his commitment, he was honorably discharged in 1964.

Max worked for Conoco and Texas Oil & Gas before starting his own company, Lear Petroleum Corporation. At Lear, he served as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President from 1968 to 1988. During those years, he was also actively involved in cattle futures, real estate and banking.

Max was a member of the Dallas Chapter of Young Presidents Organization, Royal Oaks Country Club, Dallas Petroleum Club and Crown Colony Country Club.

Max was an avid golfer, fisherman, hunter, snow skier, traveler and supporter of his beloved Aggies. In his later years, he found his greatest joy sitting on his porch overlooking his home on Lake Jacksonville with his dog Jinny. He will be sorely missed by all those who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his loving wife, Rita Woodard; daughters, Michele Woodard Dunn and husband Gerald, and Melissa Woodard Utley and husband Steve; grandchildren, Jacob Robert Utley, Luke Wilson Utley, Abbey Elizabeth Utley, Connor Fitzgerald Dunn and Patrick Kelley Dunn; former wife, Emilynn Berry Wilson. He is also survived by Rita’s children and their families: Martin and Cindy Onofrio, Michelle and Kelly Thompson and Amy and Stover Smith.

There will be a celebration of his life at Royal Oaks Country Club on Friday, June 20 from 5:30-7:30 pm.

We would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Trinity Mother Francis Hospital in Tyler for their tender, loving care of all of us during Max’s final illness.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Texas A&M University Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840-2811, 1-800-392-3310.
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Source: Palestine Herald-Press 06-14-2008