Marion Woods

Marion Emmett Woods (Woody) was born on February 9, 1941 in Claremore, Oklahoma. He lived in Oklahoma until the age of 9 when his family moved to Saskatchewan, Canada. Woody was the oldest of 4 children of Alvin and Blanche Woods. The Woods family lived in Canada for 6 years until his dad was transferred to Kentucky for a year and then to Indiana where Woody graduated from High School in 1958. Right after graduation the family moved again, this time to Missouri. At the suggestion of a high school teacher, Woody went to Chicago to attend DeVry Technical Institute (now DeVry University). There he studied electronics and radio and TV, eventually getting a First-Class FCC broadcast license.

Woody’s first job in radio was at KDKD-AM in Clinton, Missouri where he started his broadcast career on March 17, 1962. Four and a half years later he was offered a position at KOKO-AM in Warrensburg, Missouri where he is still employed. In 57 years at KOKO he has worked for 3 different owners and has held about every position available from DJ, sales, chief engineer, program director and general manager. Along the way he also managed to get a couple of broadcasting awards. In 1974, he was the Billboard Magazine Small Market MOR Air Personality of the year. Then in 2022 Woody received a TELLY for narrating a TV Documentary on the history of the University of Central Missouri.

Woody has always been involved in the community. He has served as President of the Chamber of Commerce, WAFB Community Council and Warrensburg Country Club.  He is also a long-time member of the Warrensburg Rotary Club. He is referred to by many as “The Voice of Warrensburg.”

Woody has been married to his wife Irma for 61 years and they have 2 children, 5 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.