He was born September 21, 1935 in Fyffe, Alabama, the only child of James Wood and Verdrey Hicks Wood. He was a graduate of Chattanooga Central High School and attended the University of Tennessee Knoxville and University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Chicago School of Transportation
For 33 years he worked at the Chattanooga Glass Company, retiring as Traffic Manager and founding an independent insurance agency, Carriage Hill Insurance. Early in his career, Bobby aspired to be a writer, and his play Christmas Comes to Detroit Louie (1966) continues to be performed at churches today.
After years of community service (everything from the Lions Club to coaching Little League baseball), Bobby was encouraged to enter the political arena and discovered his passion. In 1976, he won his first election, to represent the 26th District in the state House of Representatives. Bobby won every subsequent election until his retirement from the legislature in 2004, at which time he was the senior member of the House GOP caucus. He was given the party’s “Tennessee Statesman of the Year” award that same year. During his time at the State Capitol, Bobby established a reputation for his legislative acumen, debate skills, bill authorship, and intricate knowledge of complex state government issues. His was not a political career defined by pride and ambition, but by a genuine concern for his fellow citizen, and a selfless dedication to the betterment of the community.
He sponsored legislation formulating home school policy in Tennessee that was used as a model in other states. He was also the founder of the weekly Legislative Devotional, a bi-partisan Wednesday morning gathering.
When announcing his retirement, Bobby said, “During my 28 years in the legislature, I have worked hard to ensure that Tennesseans have educational opportunity, a strong business climate, safer streets, and a government we can trust. Working with my colleagues, governors and statewide officials of both parties, I have been blessed with the opportunity to make a real difference. One cannot ask for more from a career in public life, so this is a good time for me to now focus on my family."
Retirement meant years of involvement in various political campaigns, being elected to the GOP State Executive Committee (2008-2020), and serving as chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party. Even as his health declined in 2022, he remained active in the Pachyderm Club, and continued to teach Sunday school at Ooltewah Church of God (occasionally taking the microphone to sing a gospel duet with wife Jeanne).
He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Wood. He is also survived by son Glen Wood (Pam) and grandchildren Cole and Elaina Wood, and son Bret Wood (Felicia Feaster) and grandson William Addison Wood. Bobby was predeceased by his first wife, Gladys Eldridge Wood.
Visitation at Redemption Point Church, 3831 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, will be Monday from 4-8 p.m. and Tuesday from 11 a.m. to noon when the funeral service will be held.
Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com
