William Frank Woods, Jr.

Frank Woods Jr., a Vidor native and longtime resident, was called home to be with the Lord on Saturday evening October 4th 2014.   He was born in Beaumont to Frank and Maude Woods on January 4th 1945, grew up in Vidor and was a graduate of Vidor High School. Upon graduating from Sam Houston State University Frank Woods embarked on a 26 year career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.  During his career he served in staff and leadership positions at high security Federal Prisons throughout the nation. He culminated his career as the Warden of Federal Correction Institute in Three Rivers, TX.  During his career he participated in the response to the 1980 Cuban Refugee Crisis (“Marielitas Boat Lift”), supervised the opening of the new Federal Prison at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and closed down the Federal Corrections facility on McNeil Island in Washington State.  Additionally, he was instrumental in initiating the Bureau’s Special Operations Response Team (SORT) concept which was adopted nationwide and continues today as the model for prison riot and crisis response teams.  Most importantly, his legacy lives on in the Bureau through the dozens he coached, taught and mentored throughout his career.
Warden Woods retired to Lake Fork, TX in 1996 where he began new duties as full time grandfather and fisherman. He had a special affinity for jug lining and bass fishing and he enjoyed sharing this hobby with his grandchildren.  His retirement was interrupted following the events of 911 when he returned to work for Creative Corrections as a consultant and inspector of prison facilities to assess their vulnerabilities and capabilities in the face of new and emerging terrorist threats. 
Throughout his life Mr. Woods was an active member of every community he lived in serving as a youth sports coach, member of the IRS Tax Advisory Board, member of the First National Bank Board of Directors in Three Rivers and devoting his resources to various other civic and service organizations.
His education included a BS in Finance and Accounting from Sam Houston and a MS in Criminal Justice from the University of Miami.  
Of all his achievements and accomplishments his favorite job was being patriarch of his family as the husband of his high school sweetheart Mary Jane Woods, father of three daughters and “Opa” or “Papa” to his five grandchildren. They were collectively the love of his life and the apple of his eye and will serve as his legacy for generations to come.
In addition to his wife Mary Jane, he is survived by his brother Ronnie Woods (Kathy) of Vidor, his sister Donna of Richmond; three daughters: Allison Woods of Fort Worth, Wendy Mask (Jay) of Georgetown and Leigh Ann Payne (Daren) of Richmond Hill, GA; five grandchildren Andy Mask, Junior at Dallas Baptist University, Madison and Emily Mask of Georgetown, Hayden and Landry Eskridge of Richmond Hill.  He is also survived by his brother-in-law Cliff Gray as well as seven nieces and nephews, cousins and too many friends, colleagues and comrades to list.   
 
Funeral services will be held at Vidor Memorial Funeral Home 10am Wednesday, October 8, 2014. Visitation is 6pm Tuesday evening at the funeral home.