'Age is no deterrent' for 92-year-old University of Richmond student
February 11, 2008
Wade Wood was only a year old when Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated for his second presidential term in 1917. Nearly 20 years later, he first learned about the University of Richmond in a devastating football defeat.
"It was 1935, and I played football for the University of Maryland," he says. "We lost the game, and I wondered who were these people from this school in Richmond?"
Wood served in the Italy Army Air Corps in World War II, then began a career in the insurance business. In 1960, he moved to Richmond as regional manager of the company and became reacquainted with his former opponent when his oldest daughter enrolled.
Now, more than forty years later at 92 years old, Wood himself attends the University of Richmond through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, an endowed program that enriches the lives of area residents over 50 by involving them in campus academic, cultural and recreational life.
Wood isn't seeking a degree, but enjoys taking as many classes as he can with his daughter. "Age is no deterrent," he says.
Wood's daughter, Sally, who holds both a law degree and a master's of English from Richmond, convinced her father to take his first class with her two years ago.
"I've always said I'd like to be a glorified student if I could afford it," she says. "Daddy and I just love to learn, and our first class was on Islam."
In those two years, the father-daughter duo has taken more than a dozen classes, studying environmental science, history, religion and dance.
Wade Wood says the Osher Institute removes any fear of not fitting in with the largely young student body. "The atmosphere there makes you feel so much at home," he explains.
While many of his contemporaries spend their days fighting ailments and complaining about old age, Wood says he dances to rock n' roll, discusses literature and studies the Qu'ran. Sally Wood says her father actively participates in classes.
"When the professor asks questions, Daddy is prepared to answer."
In true university fashion, both Woods even contribute to the body of knowledge. After taking a course on Mali, they individually contributed to a textbook about the country for sixth grade students.
The pair are taking a half dozen courses during the spring semester, including, "The Wacky World of the American Legal System" and "The Clash of Three Monotheisms."