Harry R. Woodward Jr., age 89, formerly of Hot Springs, SD passed away November 18, 2008 at the Village at Germantown in Germantown, TN.

Mr. Woodward was born in Hot Springs on November 6, 1919 to Harry R. Woodward, Sr. and Mary (Cleaver) Woodward. He graduated Salutatorian of his high school class in 1937. In 1940, he married Theone Weldon and to this union three children were born. He was a loving, devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

He attended Colorado State University majoring in forestry and wildlife. He played football and spent his summers at the University's forestry camp, military camp and surveying timber for the US Forest Service. He was a member of four honorary fraternities and a social fraternity, Sigma Nu. He transferred to Utah State University and received a Bachelors Degree with honors in wildlife management in 1941.

He was called to active duty in the United States Army as a 2nd Lieutenant the day he received his diploma. His unit, the 78th Coast Artillery, Anti-Aircraft, had its 90 mm guns in defensive positions around Los Angeles, CA when the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor. He was then assigned to the 214th CA (AA) headed for Guadalcanal. His regiment shot down more Japanese aircraft than any other unit in the Pacific. He attained the rank of Captain and was assigned to New Guinea and Morotai-the fighter and bomber base for the Philippine campaign. He was released from active duty in January 1946 as a Major and received the Soldier's Medal for heroism, American Defense Medal and two Battle Stars for the Pacific Theater.

Harry started his career with the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks as a Wildlife Technician and later served as State Forester. In 1955, he chose a Black Hills spruce as the National Christmas Tree to give to President Eisenhower for display on the White House lawn. President Eisenhower and the tree were both 65 years old. During these years, Harry built a state park system of over 100 parks, a fire protection system covering one million acres, developed a farm forestry program to serve landowners, developed a timber management program, and initiated the Hunter Safety Program. Harry was appointed Director of the South Dakota Dept. of Game, Fish and Parks in 1958.

In 1961, Harry was selected among top contenders in Colorado's search for a Game and Fish Director. He came to Colorado during a tremendous change. Game and fish abundance and unlimited hunting and fishing had disappeared in the face of exploding human populations coupled with expanding industrializations and agricultural development. His challenge was to preserve an American wildlife heritage. He accomplished this smoothly with great thought put into reorganization of the department and projects directed toward habitat evaluation or economic species. He accomplished many firsts. Permanent opening dates were given for all hunting seasons, year round fishing was established, and Colorado became a three time winner of the North American Safety Program.

Harry became active in National and International affairs and appeared before Congress in consulting situations. He convinced the Secretary of the Interior to pass a resolution giving the States full authority in the management of fish and wildlife without being overseen by the Federal Government.

In 1963, he became a consultant with the Irish Game Council to help plan a national game management program. Tribal chiefs and representatives from Kenya and Uganda came to Colorado to learn management of wildlife.

He served as President of the International Association of Game, Fish and Conservation Commissioners, President of the National Assoc. of State Outdoor Recreational Liaison Officers, President of Midwest Fish and Commissioners and President of the Western Association of State Game and Fish Commissioners.

In 1974, after serving the longest of any director in Colorado, Harry accepted a regional position in fund raising for Ducks Unlimited, Inc. He was quickly promoted to Field Operations Supervisor for the Pacific Flyway and moved to Sierra Vista, AZ where he retired in 1985. Here, he was on the Board of Trustees of AZ Nature Conservancy, Chairman of the Advisory Riparian Conservation Area and President of the Research Ranch Foundation which assists the Audubon Society in the management of the Ranch.

Harry was an active member in Kiwanis, Rotary, National Rifle Association and the Isaak Walton Association where he received an award for Outstanding Conservationist of National Resources. He is a 32nd Degree Mason. He is listed in Who's Who in the West, in South Dakota and in Colorado.

Survivors include his son, Terry Woodward and wife, Jeanine, of Colorado Springs, CO; two daughters, Kaye Whitehead and husband, Gene, of Memphis, TN; and Robin Robinson and husband, Jay, of Jackson, FL; five grandchildren, Cindy Whitehead; Lisa Tripp; Doug Whitehead; Sherri Woodward; and Nicole Williams. He also left five great-grandchildren, Haley and Morgan Williams; Alana, Sara, and Keeley Whitehead.

He lost his loving and supportive wife, Theone, in 2002 and moved near his daughter, Robin in Florida for three years and then near his daughter, Kaye in Tennessee, for two years.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Sunday , November 23, 2008 at McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m., Monday, November 24, 2008 at the United Churches in Hot Springs with Pastor Morris Nelson officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Hot Springs.

A memorial has been established in Harry's name to benefit the Badger Clark Memorial Society, PO Box 351, Custer, SD 57730 or the Hot Springs High School Scholarship Fund.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs. Written condolences can be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.