Phil was a marvelous person. He always made you laugh and seemed to always be in a great mood. I dated Phil while living in Raleigh in 1970 and he was wonderful. I'm sure many miss him and his wonderful personality. Jean Lee
Phil was a fun classmate and obviously a good friend to those he met. He is certainly someone we could not forget! He came to several of our past reunions, and we will miss seeing him and hearing about all his carrying ons! Lots of people thought a lot of this guy!
Phil was a special person who left good memories with people from every stage of his life. I attended his funeral in Cary, and the large sanctuary was full. One section contained 30-40 of his coworkers from Rex Hospital. He touched the lives and hearts of many people. Dale Williams
Phil was much more than a 'people person' - which he certainly was that. He liked everyone, was friendly and never aluf. Seemingly everyone liked him too - especially the girls.
Among many memories of Phil, I will neve forget our first Class Reunion - the 10th Year in 1977. We went aroud the table and each class mate launched into our spill trying to impress all - we had graduated this, were VP of that, had already accomplished this and done that, etc etc. When it came Phil's time... he announced 'he was in the petrolium business' He said, yep, I pump gas down as Jake's gas station. What a way of letting the rest of us know what really in life is important.
The weekend before Phil's passing, I came to Raleigh for our pre-planned from just over a year prior (right after he was initially diagnosed with cancer) to attend the NCCA season opening game on Sunday night with NC State hosting nationally top five ranked Virginia Tech. A life long Tarheel fan, I had promised to wear a Wolfpack t-shirt at the Game, which Woodcock had already purchased (along with a NCS hat and banner). Upon arriving that Friday afternoon, his wife Jackie advised she had just again had him taken to the Cancer Center at Rex Hosp, but this time to be checked in a room. He had been out washing his red Wolfpack stickered pick-up and had collapsed. By the time I got to the Hospital his Doctor had him in an enduced coma, but the Doctor and all the attending staff, who knew ewell aboutn our game plans, told us they had promised him the Doctor would take him out of the coma and they would have an ambulance ready to take us the just over a mile trip to the football game the next night. By late the following Sunday afternoon Phil had taken a turn for the worse and was in a non enduced coma. His Doctor came in to appologize for having to break his promise to Phil, but said the Rex staff had arranged to have the game video linked to the TV in Phil's room - which they did. [His Doc also said the last time Phil awoke for the coma, while on oxygen, he asked the Doc if he could have a cigarette. His Doc said he had gotten so fond of Phil so much that if it had not been for the needed oxygen tubes in his nose he would have allowned it - said at that point could not hurt.] A few of us joined his wife Jackie watching the game with Phil in a coma - me with my no longer dreaded Wolfpack shirt and cap - and at half time Phil briefly came out of his coma and I told him State was ahead at the half and he put his NCSU hat on and returned to his coma. NCSU went on to barely lose the game and I returned the following weekend for Phil's funeral. Gone but definitely not forgotten!
I also remember when Coach Paroli was leaving BHS at the end of our Freshman year. He introduced the new coach (Pell) to Woodcock and stated he believed Phil had the making of being one of the best football players ever at BHS. While many other would likely take exception to that comment...not me. But for two severe knee injuries (each leg), and the unfortunate retna eye detachment and surgery at McPherson's Hosp at Duke just before the start of our Junion football campaign, I believe Woodcock would have realized his dream goal of 'four yards and a cloud of dust' playing fullback for Woody Hayes at Ohio State. - Do you remember how Phil got his first knee injury? Our Sophmore year he was already beginning to get area and state notice, and with injuries we were down to just 17 players, Not enough to even scrimmage at practive. So new Coach Pell agreed to let prior 3 or 4 year BHS football graduates suit up to scrimage our offense. With all his publicity they focused on him and crack-back tackled him causing his first knee ligament injury. The wrest of the story is an unfulfilled dread history that haunted Phil until his last days. He still made a comeback our Senior Year, and favoring the right knee ammased almost 200 yards rushing the first 3 games until toward the end of the first quarter of the Fuquay-Varina Game when the ligaments in his left knee were equally severely injured - ending his still promising football career.
Phil was never embarrased advising he never had much wealth, but he died rich. Rich with literally hundreds of friends that all thought the world of him.
I miss him and think of him often. I still smile and laugh at many of our episodes....from the early days when he lived across the street when we were 5-6 years old... to the last days together.
One last story. One he never seemed to mind me telling. After he initally moved from across the street the following Christmas both he and I got the large Texaco Fire Truck. It had a water compartment and hand pump that made the hoses act like a water gun. Phil (and Larry, Wetona & Rachel) all got up ver early Christmas morning and opened ther gifts. Phil saw he got one of the items he asked for and immediately went to the kitchen sink to fill up his firetruck tank. Next he found matches and set the living room curtains on fire with plans to 'put out the fire' with his new firetruck. Yes, you already guessed it. Unfortunately, the fire raged. Larry went to wake Mr. Curtis and Mrs. Ruby to tell them Phil had set the house on fire. They got the family safely out of the house and Phil still remembers, after the fire destroyed most of the house, one of the Firemen telling him....'son if I were you, I would run down to those woods and hide'....which of course Phil tried. This resulted in their building the house we all knew on Hwy 301. (Near the old Livestock Market. Lots of stories from there too).
I know "red head" is missed by many others and also often though of! David (Gerald) Lee
I recall that Phil had a zest for life as he seemed to always enjoy each day to the fullest. He was one that made memories through his actions and association with others both in school and on the football field. He played the position of full back at its best and with his talent he was sure to get us yards on the field. It was great to be his team mate and he helped us go out with a record of 8 wins and two losses...the best team in Benson High School histoy. Even after his season ending injury he was cheering us on while on crutches from the sideline. We are all the more richer having crossed life's path with him. Phil, thanks for the momories of days gone by.
Jean Raynor (Lee) (1969)
Phil was a marvelous person. He always made you laugh and seemed to always be in a great mood. I dated Phil while living in Raleigh in 1970 and he was wonderful. I'm sure many miss him and his wonderful personality.Jean Lee
Beth Denning (Rogers) (1967)
Phil was a fun classmate and obviously a good friend to those he met. He is certainly someone we could not forget! He came to several of our past reunions, and we will miss seeing him and hearing about all his carrying ons! Lots of people thought a lot of this guy!Dale Phillips (Williams) (1968)
Phil was a special person who left good memories with people from every stage of his life. I attended his funeral in Cary, and the large sanctuary was full. One section contained 30-40 of his coworkers from Rex Hospital. He touched the lives and hearts of many people.Dale Williams
David Gerald Lee (1967)
Phil was much more than a 'people person' - which he certainly was that. He liked everyone, was friendly and never aluf. Seemingly everyone liked him too - especially the girls.Among many memories of Phil, I will neve forget our first Class Reunion - the 10th Year in 1977. We went aroud the table and each class mate launched into our spill trying to impress all - we had graduated this, were VP of that, had already accomplished this and done that, etc etc.
When it came Phil's time... he announced 'he was in the petrolium business' He said, yep, I pump gas down as Jake's gas station.
What a way of letting the rest of us know what really in life is important.
The weekend before Phil's passing, I came to Raleigh for our pre-planned from just over a year prior (right after he was initially diagnosed with cancer) to attend the NCCA season opening game on Sunday night with NC State hosting nationally top five ranked Virginia Tech. A life long Tarheel fan, I had promised to wear a Wolfpack t-shirt at the Game, which Woodcock had already purchased (along with a NCS hat and banner).
Upon arriving that Friday afternoon, his wife Jackie advised she had just again had him taken to the Cancer Center at Rex Hosp, but this time to be checked in a room. He had been out washing his red Wolfpack stickered pick-up and had collapsed.
By the time I got to the Hospital his Doctor had him in an enduced coma, but the Doctor and all the attending staff, who knew ewell aboutn our game plans, told us they had promised him the Doctor would take him out of the coma and they would have an ambulance ready to take us the just over a mile trip to the football game the next night.
By late the following Sunday afternoon Phil had taken a turn for the worse and was in a non enduced coma. His Doctor came in to appologize for having to break his promise to Phil, but said the Rex staff had arranged to have the game video linked to the TV in Phil's room - which they did.
[His Doc also said the last time Phil awoke for the coma, while on oxygen, he asked the Doc if he could have a cigarette. His Doc said he had gotten so fond of Phil so much that if it had not been for the needed oxygen tubes in his nose he would have allowned it - said at that point could not hurt.]
A few of us joined his wife Jackie watching the game with Phil in a coma - me with my no longer dreaded Wolfpack shirt and cap - and at half time Phil briefly came out of his coma and I told him State was ahead at the half and he put his NCSU hat on and returned to his coma. NCSU went on to barely lose the game and I returned the following weekend for Phil's funeral.
Gone but definitely not forgotten!
I also remember when Coach Paroli was leaving BHS at the end of our Freshman year. He introduced the new coach (Pell) to Woodcock and stated he believed Phil had the making of being one of the best football players ever at BHS.
While many other would likely take exception to that comment...not me. But for two severe knee injuries (each leg), and the unfortunate retna eye detachment and surgery at McPherson's Hosp at Duke just before the start of our Junion football campaign, I believe Woodcock would have realized his dream goal of 'four yards and a cloud of dust' playing fullback for Woody Hayes at Ohio State.
- Do you remember how Phil got his first knee injury? Our Sophmore year he was already beginning to get area and state notice, and with injuries we were down to just 17 players, Not enough to even scrimmage at practive. So new Coach Pell agreed to let prior 3 or 4 year BHS football graduates suit up to scrimage our offense. With all his publicity they focused on him and crack-back tackled him causing his first knee ligament injury.
The wrest of the story is an unfulfilled dread history that haunted Phil until his last days.
He still made a comeback our Senior Year, and favoring the right knee ammased almost 200 yards rushing the first 3 games until toward the end of the first quarter of the Fuquay-Varina Game when the ligaments in his left knee were equally severely injured - ending his still promising football career.
Phil was never embarrased advising he never had much wealth, but he died rich. Rich with literally hundreds of friends that all thought the world of him.
I miss him and think of him often. I still smile and laugh at many of our episodes....from the early days when he lived across the street when we were 5-6 years old... to the last days together.
One last story. One he never seemed to mind me telling. After he initally moved from across the street the following Christmas both he and I got the large Texaco Fire Truck. It had a water compartment and hand pump that made the hoses act like a water gun.
Phil (and Larry, Wetona & Rachel) all got up ver early Christmas morning and opened ther gifts. Phil saw he got one of the items he asked for and immediately went to the kitchen sink to fill up his firetruck tank.
Next he found matches and set the living room curtains on fire with plans to 'put out the fire' with his new firetruck.
Yes, you already guessed it. Unfortunately, the fire raged. Larry went to wake Mr. Curtis and Mrs. Ruby to tell them Phil had set the house on fire. They got the family safely out of the house and Phil still remembers, after the fire destroyed most of the house, one of the Firemen telling him....'son if I were you, I would run down to those woods and hide'....which of course Phil tried.
This resulted in their building the house we all knew on Hwy 301. (Near the old Livestock Market. Lots of stories from there too).
I know "red head" is missed by many others and also often though of!
David (Gerald) Lee
Randy Creech (1967)
I recall that Phil had a zest for life as he seemed to always enjoy each day to the fullest. He was one that made memories through his actions and association with others both in school and on the football field. He played the position of full back at its best and with his talent he was sure to get us yards on the field. It was great to be his team mate and he helped us go out with a record of 8 wins and two losses...the best team in Benson High School histoy. Even after his season ending injury he was cheering us on while on crutches from the sideline. We are all the more richer having crossed life's path with him. Phil, thanks for the momories of days gone by.