Rick Woodson died March 12, 2013, at the age of 72 of pulmonary fibrosis. Born Dec. 17, 1940, he was predeceased by parents Lawrence Woodson and Sibyl Rollins. Mr. Woodson is survived by wife of 17 years Elizabeth Teall, children Rick Jr. (Lisa) Woodson of Sachse, Texas, Debra (Alan) Waldrop of Austin, Texas, Michael Woodson of Louisville, Ky., and Tiffany (A.J.) Wheeler of Portland, Ore., plus grandchildren Cassidy and Camryn Woodson, Duncan and Pierce Waldrop, Catherine Woodson and the Teall and Quinn families, as well as countless golf buddies, college and journalism colleagues, and hundreds of former students.

Sporting a permanent Southern accent from his years in Texas and Louisiana, Mr. Woodson loved all things Cajun. He started his 50-year career in sports journalism at the Shreveport Journal in 1964, and later wrote for the daily papers in Longview, Wash., Honolulu and the Rochester Times Union. Most recently, he wrote a weekly column for the Rochester Business Journal and a bi-weekly column for Construction Equipment Guide. He covered the Olympics, Super Bowls, championship boxing matches, many sometimes-frustrating seasons of the Buffalo Bills, and PGA and LPGA golf tournaments. However, the sporting event that meant the most to him was when he sat in the stands as a fan watching the Rochester Red Wings win the Governors Cup in 1997.

Mr. Woodson considered golf to be the most honorable sport, and admired many of the legends he covered: Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Nancy Lopez and others. It is the sport he most loved to play, which he did with characteristic competitiveness and sense of humor, serving as one of the cofounders of the IGT (Insult Golf Tour). His summer 2012 trip to play St. Andrews in Scotland was the highlight of a lifetime enjoying golf.

Mr. Woodson’s varied career included hosting the statewide WXXI TV production New York Lawn and Garden, co-owning and managing The Golf Tee driving range in Webster, and hosting a weekly radio show 1370 Sports Connection on WXXI AM 1370 and until last week The Golf Tee Show on WHTK AM 1280. He spent the last 11 years as an adjunct professor at The College at Brockport.

As much as he loved journalism, Mr. Woodson most valued the years he spent in college classrooms. A natural teacher and mentor, he influenced many lives and budding careers. A fund in his memory is being established at The College at Brockport. Donations may be sent to The Brockport Foundation in Memory of Rick Woodson, c/o The Brockport Foundation, 350 New Campus Drive, Brockport, N.Y. 14420.

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