Bill Woodhouse, age 77, passed away on January 9, 2014. He was born on December 11, 1936 to Chester and Charlene Woodhouse in Mason City, Iowa. Bill was raised in Mason City, Iowa and graduated from Mason City High School in 1955. He graduated from Abilene Christian University in 1959 where he set 7 world records in track and field with his teammates who remain lifelong and cherished friends. He twice tied the world record in the 100-yard dash in 1957 and 1959. Bill concluded his running career by winning a gold medal in the 1959 Pan American Games.
Bill married his wife, Mary Jo, on October 19, 1963. He was a devoted husband and they recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary together. He enjoyed raising his two children as well as spending time with his four grandchildren. Bill was employed as an agent for 50 years at State Farm Insurance. He volunteered on many education and charitable boards and was involved in various community projects. Bill also enjoyed officiating college and high school track meets. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and friend.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Charlene Woodhouse; and brother, Robert Woodhouse.
Bill is survived by his wife, Mary Jo Woodhouse; son, Bill (Julie) Woodhouse; daughter, Melissa Woodhouse Martinez; siblings, Richard Woodhouse, Mary Beth Gilmore; grandchildren, Kate and Ryan Woodhouse, Sophia and Dylan Martinez.
Visitation will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 2014 at St. Pius X Catholic Church with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at St. Pius X Catholic Church with Interment to follow at Seaside Memorial Park
Woodhouse:A world-class sprinter
January 01, 2000 12:00 am
Saturday, January 1, 2000
BY TIM MASMAR, Of The Globe-Gazette
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Within minutes of each other, Bill Woodhouse set records in the 100- and 220-yard dashes in a 1954 meet in Mason City.
That performance prompted Globe-Gazette sports editor Jim VanHeel to write that Woodhouse could be the best sprinter to ever wear a Mohawk uniform.
Nearly 45 years later, Woodhouse is still considered the best thinclad to ever lace up the Mohawk spikes. His small-in-stature but ever-dominating presence entertained track fans throughout the world from 1952-60 as he competed for Mason City High School and Abilene Christian University in Texas.
All told, Woodhouse, 63, finished his career with his name beside seven world records and countless meet records in high school and college.
After college, Woodhouse kept his running total of accomplishments growing with a dominating performance as a member on the 1959 U.S.A. Track Team's European Tour, before finally concluding his career at the 1959 Pan American Games. He also made the 1960 Olympics but couldn't participate due to an injury.
Woodhouse has since been a recipient of four separate Hall of Fame honors, including the Iowa Association of Track Coaches Hall of Fame (1978-79), the Drake Relays Hall of Fame (1980), the Meet of Champions Hall of Fame (1984) and the Abilene Christian University Hall of Fame (1991).
"Rabbit," as he was referred to by his Mason City teammates, blazed through his high school career with few defeats and consistent record-setting performances.
Running on the varsity team as a freshman, Woodhouse's impact began to turn heads across the nation immediately. He competed mostly in the 100- and 220-yard events and teamed up either in the 440- or 880-yard relays. In his junior campaign, he began to gain recognition statewide; by his senior year, he was one of the most feared short-distance runners in the nation.
"He was so easy to coach and he didn't say much," former Mason City coach Bill Moore said. "He was a quiet guy but he could sure run, and there was nobody in his class around here."
As a senior at Mason City in 1955, Woodhouse tied the national scholastic 100-yard dash record set by the great Jesse Owens when he was a schoolboy. The 5-foot, 8-inch Woodhouse, born to Chet and Charlene Woodhouse in Mason City on Dec. 11, 1936, was clocked in 9.4 seconds, smashing the previous Mohawk Relays record.
"Tying that record made me feel great," said Woodhouse, admitting that the accomplishment went virtually unnoticed. "I don't know how fast the wind was that day, but that really meant a lot because I had idolized Owens along with (Southern Cal's) Mel Patton growing up."
In the 1955 state meet at Ames, the Mohawks lost the title to the host school but Woodhouse was declared the "individual star of the meet" after he captured both the 100- and 220-yard titles. His win in the 220-yard dash was particularly satisfying as he finally beat his nemesis, Marshalltown flyer Tom Jennings, considered at the time as the best 220-yard sprinter around.
With the recognition as a top high school performer, Woodhouse turned down over 35 other track scholarship offers and decided to run for the great Abilene Christian University Wildcats.
Woodhouse said Abilene coach Oliver Jackson tells a funny story about when Woodhouse first got off the train in Texas.
"Oliver had only seen me run once at the Drake Relays and he didn't think I could run a 10-second 100, but he put me on scholarship because of a recommendation he received from Bill Moore," he said. "Then we had an intra-squad meet before the season started and I ran it in 9.5 seconds. Oliver looked at his watch and thought it had to be wrong, so he took it in and had it checked. When he came back, he was very happy."
The Wildcats, guided by Jackson, boasted many of the top sprinters. Immediately, Woodhouse was teamed with the famous Bobby Morrow, another blinding sprinter. Morrow was a three-time gold medal winner at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, with an Olympic record in the 200 meters on his resume.
"I saw Bobby run at the Drake Relays my senior year," said Woodhouse. "When I got to college I worked out and competed against a three-time Olympic champion every day. Sometimes we had more competition in practice than we did in the meets."
Together, Woodhouse and Morrow struck fear in opponents as Abilene displayed its power at sold-out venues across the nation.
"The two of them together, they were the best in the country at the time," said Jackson, a member of the NCAA Track Hall of Fame. "They would both qualify in the 100- and 200-yard dashes and finish at the top nearly every time."
Abilene traveled and competed against the top track teams with regularity in the late '50s, filling up venues like the Los Angeles Coliseum and running in front of 75,000 people. They also finished among the top teams in the most prestigious relays like the Penn, Texas and California Relays.
"When you come from somewhere like Mason City and you compete in the Coliseum, it is quite a change," said Jackson. "We had to calm the kids down but keep them geared up at the same time. After all, we were the ones doing the scaring."
"There was more media attention back then in track then there is even now," said Woodhouse. "It was great running in front of all those people. It made me want to run even faster."
And faster he ran, being a part of a world record every year he competed in college from 1956-59. His first world record came as a freshman on May 26, 1956, as the 880-yard relay quartet was timed in 1.24.0. The next year, the team broke the 440-yard relay mark twice and in 1958 broke it for the third time, clocking 39.7 seconds.
On that same day, Woodhouse also helped smash two other world records, the 880-yard relay and the 800-meter relay.
One year later, on May 5, 1959, Woodhouse posted a 9.3-second shocker in the 100-yard dash. He came into that race ranked 10th in the world in the 100-yard dash and was fourth in the 220, according to rankings by Track and Field News.
"Every year we set a new world record," said Woodhouse. "It's something that I was happy with for quite a long time and it made me feel great."
Amongst all the world records and recognition, Woodhouse didn't always stand out. In fact, at a meet in Texas, Woodhouse and Morrow finished the 100-yard dash first and second. However, Morrow's towering presence didn't enable timers to see Woodhouse, and he was awarded with an eighth-place finish. A day later, a Texas newspaper ran a photo of the close finish showing Woodhouse was beside Morrow in the far lane, shadowing the 6-foot-2 Morrow. From there on, the Texas newspapers labeled Woodhouse as the "invisible man."
"Actually it happened in three different races that they couldn't see me," said Woodhouse. "The first two times I was very upset, but the third time I found it kind of humorous. I remember Oliver gave me some bright pants to wear when I ran after that."
Upon graduation from Abilene, Woodhouse was selected as a member of the U.S.A. Track Team's European Tour. He won all 14 events, competing in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. At the Pan American Games in 1959, he was a member of the winning 400-meter relay quarter.
Woodhouse was named as an alternate in the 1960 Olympics held in Rome. However, the "invisible man" was not to be seen as he was unable to compete because of a pulled muscle and he could only run in warm-ups.
"I was disappointed that I wasn't able to run, but I was just happy to be there," said Woodhouse. "The whole experience was just a lot of fun."
When Woodhouse returned to the States, he was forced to cut back on all the fun and give up the one thing he loved to do, run.
"Back in the '50s, there were no track clubs and nobody got paid to run," said Woodhouse, who only made $2 a day while competing on the European Tour. "You had to be fairly well-off to run track or you had to go out and find a job. There were no sponsorships, no nothing."
So, Woodhouse put his accounting degree to use as an insurance agent. He has been an agent in Corpus Christi for the last 35 years. He is married and has two children, Bill Woodhouse II and Melissa, ages 30 and 28.
"I would have liked to continue running, but I didn't have a choice," said Woodhouse. "I have a lot of great memories and every couple of years some of us college teammates get together and talk for a weekend."
Bill married his wife, Mary Jo, on October 19, 1963. He was a devoted husband and they recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary together. He enjoyed raising his two children as well as spending time with his four grandchildren. Bill was employed as an agent for 50 years at State Farm Insurance. He volunteered on many education and charitable boards and was involved in various community projects. Bill also enjoyed officiating college and high school track meets. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and friend.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Charlene Woodhouse; and brother, Robert Woodhouse.
Bill is survived by his wife, Mary Jo Woodhouse; son, Bill (Julie) Woodhouse; daughter, Melissa Woodhouse Martinez; siblings, Richard Woodhouse, Mary Beth Gilmore; grandchildren, Kate and Ryan Woodhouse, Sophia and Dylan Martinez.
Visitation will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 2014 at St. Pius X Catholic Church with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at St. Pius X Catholic Church with Interment to follow at Seaside Memorial Park
Woodhouse:A world-class sprinter
January 01, 2000 12:00 am
Saturday, January 1, 2000
BY TIM MASMAR, Of The Globe-Gazette
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Within minutes of each other, Bill Woodhouse set records in the 100- and 220-yard dashes in a 1954 meet in Mason City.
That performance prompted Globe-Gazette sports editor Jim VanHeel to write that Woodhouse could be the best sprinter to ever wear a Mohawk uniform.
Nearly 45 years later, Woodhouse is still considered the best thinclad to ever lace up the Mohawk spikes. His small-in-stature but ever-dominating presence entertained track fans throughout the world from 1952-60 as he competed for Mason City High School and Abilene Christian University in Texas.
All told, Woodhouse, 63, finished his career with his name beside seven world records and countless meet records in high school and college.
After college, Woodhouse kept his running total of accomplishments growing with a dominating performance as a member on the 1959 U.S.A. Track Team's European Tour, before finally concluding his career at the 1959 Pan American Games. He also made the 1960 Olympics but couldn't participate due to an injury.
Woodhouse has since been a recipient of four separate Hall of Fame honors, including the Iowa Association of Track Coaches Hall of Fame (1978-79), the Drake Relays Hall of Fame (1980), the Meet of Champions Hall of Fame (1984) and the Abilene Christian University Hall of Fame (1991).
"Rabbit," as he was referred to by his Mason City teammates, blazed through his high school career with few defeats and consistent record-setting performances.
Running on the varsity team as a freshman, Woodhouse's impact began to turn heads across the nation immediately. He competed mostly in the 100- and 220-yard events and teamed up either in the 440- or 880-yard relays. In his junior campaign, he began to gain recognition statewide; by his senior year, he was one of the most feared short-distance runners in the nation.
"He was so easy to coach and he didn't say much," former Mason City coach Bill Moore said. "He was a quiet guy but he could sure run, and there was nobody in his class around here."
As a senior at Mason City in 1955, Woodhouse tied the national scholastic 100-yard dash record set by the great Jesse Owens when he was a schoolboy. The 5-foot, 8-inch Woodhouse, born to Chet and Charlene Woodhouse in Mason City on Dec. 11, 1936, was clocked in 9.4 seconds, smashing the previous Mohawk Relays record.
"Tying that record made me feel great," said Woodhouse, admitting that the accomplishment went virtually unnoticed. "I don't know how fast the wind was that day, but that really meant a lot because I had idolized Owens along with (Southern Cal's) Mel Patton growing up."
In the 1955 state meet at Ames, the Mohawks lost the title to the host school but Woodhouse was declared the "individual star of the meet" after he captured both the 100- and 220-yard titles. His win in the 220-yard dash was particularly satisfying as he finally beat his nemesis, Marshalltown flyer Tom Jennings, considered at the time as the best 220-yard sprinter around.
With the recognition as a top high school performer, Woodhouse turned down over 35 other track scholarship offers and decided to run for the great Abilene Christian University Wildcats.
Woodhouse said Abilene coach Oliver Jackson tells a funny story about when Woodhouse first got off the train in Texas.
"Oliver had only seen me run once at the Drake Relays and he didn't think I could run a 10-second 100, but he put me on scholarship because of a recommendation he received from Bill Moore," he said. "Then we had an intra-squad meet before the season started and I ran it in 9.5 seconds. Oliver looked at his watch and thought it had to be wrong, so he took it in and had it checked. When he came back, he was very happy."
The Wildcats, guided by Jackson, boasted many of the top sprinters. Immediately, Woodhouse was teamed with the famous Bobby Morrow, another blinding sprinter. Morrow was a three-time gold medal winner at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, with an Olympic record in the 200 meters on his resume.
"I saw Bobby run at the Drake Relays my senior year," said Woodhouse. "When I got to college I worked out and competed against a three-time Olympic champion every day. Sometimes we had more competition in practice than we did in the meets."
Together, Woodhouse and Morrow struck fear in opponents as Abilene displayed its power at sold-out venues across the nation.
"The two of them together, they were the best in the country at the time," said Jackson, a member of the NCAA Track Hall of Fame. "They would both qualify in the 100- and 200-yard dashes and finish at the top nearly every time."
Abilene traveled and competed against the top track teams with regularity in the late '50s, filling up venues like the Los Angeles Coliseum and running in front of 75,000 people. They also finished among the top teams in the most prestigious relays like the Penn, Texas and California Relays.
"When you come from somewhere like Mason City and you compete in the Coliseum, it is quite a change," said Jackson. "We had to calm the kids down but keep them geared up at the same time. After all, we were the ones doing the scaring."
"There was more media attention back then in track then there is even now," said Woodhouse. "It was great running in front of all those people. It made me want to run even faster."
And faster he ran, being a part of a world record every year he competed in college from 1956-59. His first world record came as a freshman on May 26, 1956, as the 880-yard relay quartet was timed in 1.24.0. The next year, the team broke the 440-yard relay mark twice and in 1958 broke it for the third time, clocking 39.7 seconds.
On that same day, Woodhouse also helped smash two other world records, the 880-yard relay and the 800-meter relay.
One year later, on May 5, 1959, Woodhouse posted a 9.3-second shocker in the 100-yard dash. He came into that race ranked 10th in the world in the 100-yard dash and was fourth in the 220, according to rankings by Track and Field News.
"Every year we set a new world record," said Woodhouse. "It's something that I was happy with for quite a long time and it made me feel great."
Amongst all the world records and recognition, Woodhouse didn't always stand out. In fact, at a meet in Texas, Woodhouse and Morrow finished the 100-yard dash first and second. However, Morrow's towering presence didn't enable timers to see Woodhouse, and he was awarded with an eighth-place finish. A day later, a Texas newspaper ran a photo of the close finish showing Woodhouse was beside Morrow in the far lane, shadowing the 6-foot-2 Morrow. From there on, the Texas newspapers labeled Woodhouse as the "invisible man."
"Actually it happened in three different races that they couldn't see me," said Woodhouse. "The first two times I was very upset, but the third time I found it kind of humorous. I remember Oliver gave me some bright pants to wear when I ran after that."
Upon graduation from Abilene, Woodhouse was selected as a member of the U.S.A. Track Team's European Tour. He won all 14 events, competing in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. At the Pan American Games in 1959, he was a member of the winning 400-meter relay quarter.
Woodhouse was named as an alternate in the 1960 Olympics held in Rome. However, the "invisible man" was not to be seen as he was unable to compete because of a pulled muscle and he could only run in warm-ups.
"I was disappointed that I wasn't able to run, but I was just happy to be there," said Woodhouse. "The whole experience was just a lot of fun."
When Woodhouse returned to the States, he was forced to cut back on all the fun and give up the one thing he loved to do, run.
"Back in the '50s, there were no track clubs and nobody got paid to run," said Woodhouse, who only made $2 a day while competing on the European Tour. "You had to be fairly well-off to run track or you had to go out and find a job. There were no sponsorships, no nothing."
So, Woodhouse put his accounting degree to use as an insurance agent. He has been an agent in Corpus Christi for the last 35 years. He is married and has two children, Bill Woodhouse II and Melissa, ages 30 and 28.
"I would have liked to continue running, but I didn't have a choice," said Woodhouse. "I have a lot of great memories and every couple of years some of us college teammates get together and talk for a weekend."
Bill Woodhouse, age 77, passed away on January 9, 2014. He was born on December 11, 1936 to Chester and Charlene Woodhouse in Mason City, Iowa. Bill was raised in Mason City, Iowa and graduated from Mason City High School in 1955. He graduated from Abilene Christian University in 1959 where he set 7 world records in track and field with his teammates who remain lifelong and cherished friends. He twice tied the world record in the 100-yard dash in 1957 and 1959. Bill concluded his running career by winning a gold medal in the 1959 Pan American Games.
Bill married his wife, Mary Jo, on October 19, 1963. He was a devoted husband and they recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary together. He enjoyed raising his two children as well as spending time with his four grandchildren. Bill was employed as an agent for 50 years at State Farm Insurance. He volunteered on many education and charitable boards and was involved in various community projects. Bill also enjoyed officiating college and high school track meets. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and friend.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Charlene Woodhouse; and brother, Robert Woodhouse.
Bill is survived by his wife, Mary Jo Woodhouse; son, Bill (Julie) Woodhouse; daughter, Melissa Woodhouse Martinez; siblings, Richard Woodhouse, Mary Beth Gilmore; grandchildren, Kate and Ryan Woodhouse, Sophia and Dylan Martinez.
Visitation will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 2014 at St. Pius X Catholic Church with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at St. Pius X Catholic Church with Interment to follow at Seaside Memorial Park
Woodhouse:A world-class sprinter
January 01, 2000 12:00 am
Saturday, January 1, 2000
BY TIM MASMAR, Of The Globe-Gazette
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Within minutes of each other, Bill Woodhouse set records in the 100- and 220-yard dashes in a 1954 meet in Mason City.
That performance prompted Globe-Gazette sports editor Jim VanHeel to write that Woodhouse could be the best sprinter to ever wear a Mohawk uniform.
Nearly 45 years later, Woodhouse is still considered the best thinclad to ever lace up the Mohawk spikes. His small-in-stature but ever-dominating presence entertained track fans throughout the world from 1952-60 as he competed for Mason City High School and Abilene Christian University in Texas.
All told, Woodhouse, 63, finished his career with his name beside seven world records and countless meet records in high school and college.
After college, Woodhouse kept his running total of accomplishments growing with a dominating performance as a member on the 1959 U.S.A. Track Team's European Tour, before finally concluding his career at the 1959 Pan American Games. He also made the 1960 Olympics but couldn't participate due to an injury.
Woodhouse has since been a recipient of four separate Hall of Fame honors, including the Iowa Association of Track Coaches Hall of Fame (1978-79), the Drake Relays Hall of Fame (1980), the Meet of Champions Hall of Fame (1984) and the Abilene Christian University Hall of Fame (1991).
"Rabbit," as he was referred to by his Mason City teammates, blazed through his high school career with few defeats and consistent record-setting performances.
Running on the varsity team as a freshman, Woodhouse's impact began to turn heads across the nation immediately. He competed mostly in the 100- and 220-yard events and teamed up either in the 440- or 880-yard relays. In his junior campaign, he began to gain recognition statewide; by his senior year, he was one of the most feared short-distance runners in the nation.
"He was so easy to coach and he didn't say much," former Mason City coach Bill Moore said. "He was a quiet guy but he could sure run, and there was nobody in his class around here."
As a senior at Mason City in 1955, Woodhouse tied the national scholastic 100-yard dash record set by the great Jesse Owens when he was a schoolboy. The 5-foot, 8-inch Woodhouse, born to Chet and Charlene Woodhouse in Mason City on Dec. 11, 1936, was clocked in 9.4 seconds, smashing the previous Mohawk Relays record.
"Tying that record made me feel great," said Woodhouse, admitting that the accomplishment went virtually unnoticed. "I don't know how fast the wind was that day, but that really meant a lot because I had idolized Owens along with (Southern Cal's) Mel Patton growing up."
In the 1955 state meet at Ames, the Mohawks lost the title to the host school but Woodhouse was declared the "individual star of the meet" after he captured both the 100- and 220-yard titles. His win in the 220-yard dash was particularly satisfying as he finally beat his nemesis, Marshalltown flyer Tom Jennings, considered at the time as the best 220-yard sprinter around.
With the recognition as a top high school performer, Woodhouse turned down over 35 other track scholarship offers and decided to run for the great Abilene Christian University Wildcats.
Woodhouse said Abilene coach Oliver Jackson tells a funny story about when Woodhouse first got off the train in Texas.
"Oliver had only seen me run once at the Drake Relays and he didn't think I could run a 10-second 100, but he put me on scholarship because of a recommendation he received from Bill Moore," he said. "Then we had an intra-squad meet before the season started and I ran it in 9.5 seconds. Oliver looked at his watch and thought it had to be wrong, so he took it in and had it checked. When he came back, he was very happy."
The Wildcats, guided by Jackson, boasted many of the top sprinters. Immediately, Woodhouse was teamed with the famous Bobby Morrow, another blinding sprinter. Morrow was a three-time gold medal winner at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, with an Olympic record in the 200 meters on his resume.
"I saw Bobby run at the Drake Relays my senior year," said Woodhouse. "When I got to college I worked out and competed against a three-time Olympic champion every day. Sometimes we had more competition in practice than we did in the meets."
Together, Woodhouse and Morrow struck fear in opponents as Abilene displayed its power at sold-out venues across the nation.
"The two of them together, they were the best in the country at the time," said Jackson, a member of the NCAA Track Hall of Fame. "They would both qualify in the 100- and 200-yard dashes and finish at the top nearly every time."
Abilene traveled and competed against the top track teams with regularity in the late '50s, filling up venues like the Los Angeles Coliseum and running in front of 75,000 people. They also finished among the top teams in the most prestigious relays like the Penn, Texas and California Relays.
"When you come from somewhere like Mason City and you compete in the Coliseum, it is quite a change," said Jackson. "We had to calm the kids down but keep them geared up at the same time. After all, we were the ones doing the scaring."
"There was more media attention back then in track then there is even now," said Woodhouse. "It was great running in front of all those people. It made me want to run even faster."
And faster he ran, being a part of a world record every year he competed in college from 1956-59. His first world record came as a freshman on May 26, 1956, as the 880-yard relay quartet was timed in 1.24.0. The next year, the team broke the 440-yard relay mark twice and in 1958 broke it for the third time, clocking 39.7 seconds.
On that same day, Woodhouse also helped smash two other world records, the 880-yard relay and the 800-meter relay.
One year later, on May 5, 1959, Woodhouse posted a 9.3-second shocker in the 100-yard dash. He came into that race ranked 10th in the world in the 100-yard dash and was fourth in the 220, according to rankings by Track and Field News.
"Every year we set a new world record," said Woodhouse. "It's something that I was happy with for quite a long time and it made me feel great."
Amongst all the world records and recognition, Woodhouse didn't always stand out. In fact, at a meet in Texas, Woodhouse and Morrow finished the 100-yard dash first and second. However, Morrow's towering presence didn't enable timers to see Woodhouse, and he was awarded with an eighth-place finish. A day later, a Texas newspaper ran a photo of the close finish showing Woodhouse was beside Morrow in the far lane, shadowing the 6-foot-2 Morrow. From there on, the Texas newspapers labeled Woodhouse as the "invisible man."
"Actually it happened in three different races that they couldn't see me," said Woodhouse. "The first two times I was very upset, but the third time I found it kind of humorous. I remember Oliver gave me some bright pants to wear when I ran after that."
Upon graduation from Abilene, Woodhouse was selected as a member of the U.S.A. Track Team's European Tour. He won all 14 events, competing in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. At the Pan American Games in 1959, he was a member of the winning 400-meter relay quarter.
Woodhouse was named as an alternate in the 1960 Olympics held in Rome. However, the "invisible man" was not to be seen as he was unable to compete because of a pulled muscle and he could only run in warm-ups.
"I was disappointed that I wasn't able to run, but I was just happy to be there," said Woodhouse. "The whole experience was just a lot of fun."
When Woodhouse returned to the States, he was forced to cut back on all the fun and give up the one thing he loved to do, run.
"Back in the '50s, there were no track clubs and nobody got paid to run," said Woodhouse, who only made $2 a day while competing on the European Tour. "You had to be fairly well-off to run track or you had to go out and find a job. There were no sponsorships, no nothing."
So, Woodhouse put his accounting degree to use as an insurance agent. He has been an agent in Corpus Christi for the last 35 years. He is married and has two children, Bill Woodhouse II and Melissa, ages 30 and 28.
"I would have liked to continue running, but I didn't have a choice," said Woodhouse. "I have a lot of great memories and every couple of years some of us college teammates get together and talk for a weekend."
Bill married his wife, Mary Jo, on October 19, 1963. He was a devoted husband and they recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary together. He enjoyed raising his two children as well as spending time with his four grandchildren. Bill was employed as an agent for 50 years at State Farm Insurance. He volunteered on many education and charitable boards and was involved in various community projects. Bill also enjoyed officiating college and high school track meets. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and friend.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Charlene Woodhouse; and brother, Robert Woodhouse.
Bill is survived by his wife, Mary Jo Woodhouse; son, Bill (Julie) Woodhouse; daughter, Melissa Woodhouse Martinez; siblings, Richard Woodhouse, Mary Beth Gilmore; grandchildren, Kate and Ryan Woodhouse, Sophia and Dylan Martinez.
Visitation will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 2014 at St. Pius X Catholic Church with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at St. Pius X Catholic Church with Interment to follow at Seaside Memorial Park
Woodhouse:A world-class sprinter
January 01, 2000 12:00 am
Saturday, January 1, 2000
BY TIM MASMAR, Of The Globe-Gazette
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Within minutes of each other, Bill Woodhouse set records in the 100- and 220-yard dashes in a 1954 meet in Mason City.
That performance prompted Globe-Gazette sports editor Jim VanHeel to write that Woodhouse could be the best sprinter to ever wear a Mohawk uniform.
Nearly 45 years later, Woodhouse is still considered the best thinclad to ever lace up the Mohawk spikes. His small-in-stature but ever-dominating presence entertained track fans throughout the world from 1952-60 as he competed for Mason City High School and Abilene Christian University in Texas.
All told, Woodhouse, 63, finished his career with his name beside seven world records and countless meet records in high school and college.
After college, Woodhouse kept his running total of accomplishments growing with a dominating performance as a member on the 1959 U.S.A. Track Team's European Tour, before finally concluding his career at the 1959 Pan American Games. He also made the 1960 Olympics but couldn't participate due to an injury.
Woodhouse has since been a recipient of four separate Hall of Fame honors, including the Iowa Association of Track Coaches Hall of Fame (1978-79), the Drake Relays Hall of Fame (1980), the Meet of Champions Hall of Fame (1984) and the Abilene Christian University Hall of Fame (1991).
"Rabbit," as he was referred to by his Mason City teammates, blazed through his high school career with few defeats and consistent record-setting performances.
Running on the varsity team as a freshman, Woodhouse's impact began to turn heads across the nation immediately. He competed mostly in the 100- and 220-yard events and teamed up either in the 440- or 880-yard relays. In his junior campaign, he began to gain recognition statewide; by his senior year, he was one of the most feared short-distance runners in the nation.
"He was so easy to coach and he didn't say much," former Mason City coach Bill Moore said. "He was a quiet guy but he could sure run, and there was nobody in his class around here."
As a senior at Mason City in 1955, Woodhouse tied the national scholastic 100-yard dash record set by the great Jesse Owens when he was a schoolboy. The 5-foot, 8-inch Woodhouse, born to Chet and Charlene Woodhouse in Mason City on Dec. 11, 1936, was clocked in 9.4 seconds, smashing the previous Mohawk Relays record.
"Tying that record made me feel great," said Woodhouse, admitting that the accomplishment went virtually unnoticed. "I don't know how fast the wind was that day, but that really meant a lot because I had idolized Owens along with (Southern Cal's) Mel Patton growing up."
In the 1955 state meet at Ames, the Mohawks lost the title to the host school but Woodhouse was declared the "individual star of the meet" after he captured both the 100- and 220-yard titles. His win in the 220-yard dash was particularly satisfying as he finally beat his nemesis, Marshalltown flyer Tom Jennings, considered at the time as the best 220-yard sprinter around.
With the recognition as a top high school performer, Woodhouse turned down over 35 other track scholarship offers and decided to run for the great Abilene Christian University Wildcats.
Woodhouse said Abilene coach Oliver Jackson tells a funny story about when Woodhouse first got off the train in Texas.
"Oliver had only seen me run once at the Drake Relays and he didn't think I could run a 10-second 100, but he put me on scholarship because of a recommendation he received from Bill Moore," he said. "Then we had an intra-squad meet before the season started and I ran it in 9.5 seconds. Oliver looked at his watch and thought it had to be wrong, so he took it in and had it checked. When he came back, he was very happy."
The Wildcats, guided by Jackson, boasted many of the top sprinters. Immediately, Woodhouse was teamed with the famous Bobby Morrow, another blinding sprinter. Morrow was a three-time gold medal winner at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, with an Olympic record in the 200 meters on his resume.
"I saw Bobby run at the Drake Relays my senior year," said Woodhouse. "When I got to college I worked out and competed against a three-time Olympic champion every day. Sometimes we had more competition in practice than we did in the meets."
Together, Woodhouse and Morrow struck fear in opponents as Abilene displayed its power at sold-out venues across the nation.
"The two of them together, they were the best in the country at the time," said Jackson, a member of the NCAA Track Hall of Fame. "They would both qualify in the 100- and 200-yard dashes and finish at the top nearly every time."
Abilene traveled and competed against the top track teams with regularity in the late '50s, filling up venues like the Los Angeles Coliseum and running in front of 75,000 people. They also finished among the top teams in the most prestigious relays like the Penn, Texas and California Relays.
"When you come from somewhere like Mason City and you compete in the Coliseum, it is quite a change," said Jackson. "We had to calm the kids down but keep them geared up at the same time. After all, we were the ones doing the scaring."
"There was more media attention back then in track then there is even now," said Woodhouse. "It was great running in front of all those people. It made me want to run even faster."
And faster he ran, being a part of a world record every year he competed in college from 1956-59. His first world record came as a freshman on May 26, 1956, as the 880-yard relay quartet was timed in 1.24.0. The next year, the team broke the 440-yard relay mark twice and in 1958 broke it for the third time, clocking 39.7 seconds.
On that same day, Woodhouse also helped smash two other world records, the 880-yard relay and the 800-meter relay.
One year later, on May 5, 1959, Woodhouse posted a 9.3-second shocker in the 100-yard dash. He came into that race ranked 10th in the world in the 100-yard dash and was fourth in the 220, according to rankings by Track and Field News.
"Every year we set a new world record," said Woodhouse. "It's something that I was happy with for quite a long time and it made me feel great."
Amongst all the world records and recognition, Woodhouse didn't always stand out. In fact, at a meet in Texas, Woodhouse and Morrow finished the 100-yard dash first and second. However, Morrow's towering presence didn't enable timers to see Woodhouse, and he was awarded with an eighth-place finish. A day later, a Texas newspaper ran a photo of the close finish showing Woodhouse was beside Morrow in the far lane, shadowing the 6-foot-2 Morrow. From there on, the Texas newspapers labeled Woodhouse as the "invisible man."
"Actually it happened in three different races that they couldn't see me," said Woodhouse. "The first two times I was very upset, but the third time I found it kind of humorous. I remember Oliver gave me some bright pants to wear when I ran after that."
Upon graduation from Abilene, Woodhouse was selected as a member of the U.S.A. Track Team's European Tour. He won all 14 events, competing in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. At the Pan American Games in 1959, he was a member of the winning 400-meter relay quarter.
Woodhouse was named as an alternate in the 1960 Olympics held in Rome. However, the "invisible man" was not to be seen as he was unable to compete because of a pulled muscle and he could only run in warm-ups.
"I was disappointed that I wasn't able to run, but I was just happy to be there," said Woodhouse. "The whole experience was just a lot of fun."
When Woodhouse returned to the States, he was forced to cut back on all the fun and give up the one thing he loved to do, run.
"Back in the '50s, there were no track clubs and nobody got paid to run," said Woodhouse, who only made $2 a day while competing on the European Tour. "You had to be fairly well-off to run track or you had to go out and find a job. There were no sponsorships, no nothing."
So, Woodhouse put his accounting degree to use as an insurance agent. He has been an agent in Corpus Christi for the last 35 years. He is married and has two children, Bill Woodhouse II and Melissa, ages 30 and 28.
"I would have liked to continue running, but I didn't have a choice," said Woodhouse. "I have a lot of great memories and every couple of years some of us college teammates get together and talk for a weekend."
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