William "W.A." Woodham
Bio
William A. Woodham, known as “W.A.” since childhood, was born in Dothan, Alabama. He attended Chipola Junior College where he served as student body president in 1962. He graduated with a degree in criminology and corrections from Florida State University.
In 1971, after serving as a Florida Highway Patrol officer for a year and a Juvenile Court Counselor in Gadsden County for four years, Woodham was appointed Gadsden County Sheriff by then-Governor Ruben Askew at the age of 29. At the time, he was one of the youngest sheriffs, and one of a handful with a college degree. He was subsequently elected in 1972, and re-elected to serve seven more consecutive terms, for a total of 33 years, the “Dean of Sheriffs” at the time.
Woodham passed away on April 14, 2005, just five months after retirement, in Jacksonville, Florida. He was survived by his wife, Karen; three daughters, Amy Joe Dunbar and husband Matt, and Emily Woodham, both of Charlotte, N.C.; and Laurie Beth Woodham of Tampa, Florida.
Woodham was remembered at a dinner, hosted by “100 Friends of W.A. Woodham” and the Chipola Appreciation Club, on August 26, 2005 to honor the former sheriff’s memory. The event helped raise funds for an endowed scholarship at Chipola College, the school that gave him his start.