A Giant of a Man at 5’ 4”

Will O’Neil formed the National Woodie Club in 1974, and for the first eleven years was the heart and soul of the club. He had the vision and the determination to form a car club dedicated to the wood bodied vehicles. It is very appropriate that we honor Will’s memory as the club celebrates its 50th year. He was the right man at the right time to begin this wonderful club.

Will O’Neil was born in the state of Maine in 1922 into a desperately poor family; so poor in fact that Will and his siblings spent much of their childhood years in foster homes, or with members of their extended family.

During his high school years, Will drove a truck for an ice company which also delivered laundry occasionally. When delivering the laundry, Will got to drive a Plymouth Woodie that he dearly loved. Always fond of wooden furniture, Will relished being surrounded by wood and the smell of the interior of that Plymouth. We can only speculate, but it was perhaps during these infrequent trips that the seeds of the NWC were planted.

Will was a member of Tom Brokaw’s “Greatest Generation.” Following a couple of local jobs, Will joined the Army Air Corps and served as a cryptographer for an extended period, in the China-Burma Theater in WWII. His unit had to keep vigilant and often relocate due to the Japanese patrols searching for them. When WWII ended, Will got a degree in journalism using the GI Bill, and embarked on a career with the Air Force as an “estimator” (purchasing agent). Will had a very high clearance and among his many duties was helping in the hiring of the “brains” for the space program that was just beginning. In that period he got to know a few of the astronauts, notably Alan Shepard, the first American in space.

Will was as ethical a person as you would ever meet. As such, in his role as an estimator, he fought many a battle over the $400.00 hammers. He would not cheat anyone out of anything, and was always quick to the point on business matters.

The Air Force moved Will around the country during his career, the last move being to southern California which he loved. While being quite successful in the stock market, Will never believed in owning a home and always rented. This turned out to be very fortunate for woodie lovers. Shortly after arriving in California, Will met Richard “Skitch” Kenney, a former Naval Aviation Mechanic, dedicated gearhead and avid street rodder. The two men became good friends and Will rented half of Skitch’s house for many years. Skitch became NWC Life Member #10 after Will established the club and remained very active until taken by Covid in late 2021.

In spite of knowing almost nothing about cars, Will began going with Skitch to street rod events, starting with the first NSRA national meet in Peoria, Illinois, in 1970. In fact, Will attended every NSRA national meet from 1970 to 1984 except one.

At one early 70’s event, Will met Tex Smith, who founded Street Rodder magazine and later created Rod Action magazine as well. Learning that Will loved to write, Tex convinced him to write freelance for Rod Action. So well did Will write, that soon Tex asked him to join the Rod Action staff. Will accepted, but the pay never covered his expenses. Will didn’t care though, as it was a “labor of love” for him to write!

Soon after joining Rod Action, NSRA asked Will to write for their Street Scene magazine where he quickly earned the nickname “Woodie Will”, because of how often he wrote about Woodies! Once again, Will excelled at his job, and in July of 1978 he was named managing editor of Street Scene, a position he held until February of 1982. Yes, he was doing this while almost single handedly producing the Woodie Times for our NWC.

One of Will’s Rod Action efforts is particularly significant to the woodie community. In the November 1974 issue, Will featured a 1947 Ford Woodie belonging to Steve and Patty Mallory, of Shawnee, Kansas, (Charter Member #46 and still active) on the cover! Largely because of that cover, the magazine SOLD OUT, the first EVER of any kind by Challenge Publications to do so!

While returning from a street rod event sometime in 1973, Will asked Skitch why there were many clubs for specific marques, like Ford and Chevy, but not for car types, like Woodies? Skitch replied “I don’t know, why don’t you start one,” never imagining that Will would do so! And that is exactly what Will did. After retiring from the Air Force in early 1974, Will created the NWC and Woodie Times #1 arrived in March of 1974, one page, front and back! Click here to read!

Will purchased his first Woodie in July of 1973, a 1948 Chevy in fair condition. Realizing quickly that his desired restoration of it was beyond his means and abilities, he sold it a year later and bought a Chevy powered 1941 Mercury Woodie, which he would own until his passing in 1986. Will drove that Merc back and forth from California to Woodies East at least twice and to many other woodie meets as well.

It is very appropriate that we remember Skitch Kenney, and countless other men and women in the street rod community, who were very influential in the development and success of The National Woodie Club through their interaction and encouragement of Will. We sincerely thank them!

Here is a chronological list of significant events which occurred in the early years of the club and people who helped Will run it.

March, 1974 — Will published the first issue of the Woodie Times! Norm McLeod, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, volunteered to be the club artist at no charge. He served for many years and was the designer of the original logo as well as the NWC termite. Typical of Will, he signed up Bill Parker of Redondo Beach as the first charter member, and graciously placed himself as charter member number two.

People who were significant help to Will in the production of the Woodie Times were Skitch Kenney, Lynn McClanahan, Theresa Caccese, Marj & Merlin Dunn, Linda Souder and Drew Ritzul.

Some significant contributors to the Woodie Times in these early years were Ed Clarke, who wrote some wonderful technical articles, Charles Darcy, Louis Ironsides, Gil Richardson, Owen and Chris Purvis, Terry Fisher, Mark Huegelman, Bruce Briggs, Bob Tomaine, Phil Stofanak, Stuart Resor and Harold Mermel. Phil Stofanak and Harold Mermel are still frequent contributors.

June, 1974 — Lou Mraz, then of Wakefield, Mass, now of Aurora, CO., becomes the 50th and final charter member. Will personally called all the other 49 charter members to congratulate and thank them.

August, 1974 — James Girard forms the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the NWC. Ron Francis was a very active member.

September, 1974 — Will held the first organizational meeting of the club at his home in Hawthorne, California. Sixty-three people attended and the following officers were elected:

President Will O’Neil

Vice President Frank Hamusek

VP East Coast James Girard

Treasurer Theresa Caccese, who served for many years

Secretary Pam Warden

Secretary Dave Holmes

January, 1975 — The Woodie Times hits 10 pages. Will decided members no longer needed to own a woodie to join the club; previously they did!

April, 1975 — The Woodie Times got it’s first black and white photo!

May 11, 1975 — The first Woodies East meet was held in Morton, Pennsylvania. Ron Francis and James Girard of the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter hosted the meet. Will O’Neil and Bruce Robinson both drove their woodies from California to Pennsylvania for the meet.

July, 1975 — The Woodies of Southern California was formed. Bruce Robinson became president and was active for a number of years.

June, 1976 — Membership hit 500 and Will said he believed it could hit 700 by the end of the year.

January, 1978 — The Woodie Times went from 10 to 14 pages for the first time.

April, 1978 — The Woodie Times celebrated its 50th issue.

May, 1978 — Will stated in his editorial that he expected the “ultimate” membership of the club would be about 1200 due to the fact that no more woodies were being produced. We imagine he would be very pleased with today’s membership of over twice that, at 2500.

October, 1978 — Will stated that the club membership was now 900. He made an editorial appeal for nominations fornew officers. He was disa

December, 1978 — The Woodie Times stated that the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter was closing. It was noted that Ron Francis led the Woodies East meets through 1978 in Pennsylvania and remained active in the NWC.

August, 1979 — Bill and Mary Jane Dexter, of Wolcott, Vermont, hosted the 5th Woodies East as part of the big VAE (Vermont Auto Enthusiasts) Show in Stowe, Vermont. This show always drew several hundred cars and drew 31 NWC Woodies for this one!

Also that month, Richard Grace hosted the first Woodies South at Cartersville, Georgia.

September, 1979 — The first Wavecrest was held in Southern California. Stuart Resor and Corbin Taylor were the organizers,

June, 1980 — The 2nd Woodies South was held in Clearwater, Florida, hosted by Richard Grace and Rod Collman.

August, 1980 — Bill and Mary Jane Dexter again host Woodies East at Stowe, VT. This was #6 and was called Woodies International because of the strong support from Canadian members and their cars. The Dexters would go on to host Woodies East each year well into the 1990s and would lead a New England Tour prior to each show. The Dexters also handled the membership function of the club for many of the early years.

September, 1980 — The 2nd Wavecrest was held and again organized by Stuart Resor and Corbin Taylor.

January, 1981 — Will O’Neil receives his first significant assistance. After seven years of Will and Skitch Kenney doing most of the production work, the New Jersey Splinters, a street rod club, take over the printing and mailing of the Woodie Times”.

Key personnel in this effort were Jack and Carol Franz, Tom and Marilyn Buchan, Paul and Sharon Lebitsch, Pete Dunn and Fred Schraeder. The printing was done by Bill Corydon. The group performed these functions for the NWC from January of 1981 through September of 1985.

At this time, Will had become very ill with cancer. Finally, after a long search, he found someone to take over as editor. Bob Hicks, of Wenham, Mass., was already a NWC member with two woodies and was producing a magazine on wooden boats. Hicks had both the talent and the capability to edit, produce and mail the Woodie Times, which he did from December of 1985 through January of 1995.

Will retired after Bob Hicks took over and after continuing to battle cancer he passed away on October 23, 1986 at the age of 64. He is still dearly missed and fondly remembered.

No early history of the NWC would be complete without a mention of the significant events during the 1985-1988 period.

When Will knew he had cancer in 1985, he repeatedly asked the membership for volunteers and nominations for a new Board of Directors to take over. He got very little response. So, finally, he called nine members, three from each of the three regions, that he hoped could handle the job. Those members accepted, and met with Will in Hawthorne, California in December of 1985.

As Stuart Resor so eloquently stated in his article in the May 2023 Woodie Times, no one on that committee had a burning desire to take over the presidency and try to follow in Will’s footsteps. Phil Stofanak ultimately accepted the position.

This was the time when the club was transitioning from a one-man show to a board of directors organization, and the directors were spread all over the country. Remember, this was a time before the internet, before emails and before cell phones! A number of board meetings were held in Phil’s RV at the big AACA Meet at Hershey, PA, because that was the only place to get a quorum.

Phil served two presidential terms. Because of the time required to gather directors and make decisions, this was a critical time when the NWC could easily have faltered and failed, but the perseverance and steadiness of Phil’s leadership held the club together. Under his direction, the board developed a new process of electing directors and a progression of officers that continues in practice today. From the membership, past, present and future, thank you, Phil Stofanak!

We are sure Will O’Neil would approve today the status of the club he envisioned 50 years ago. Current members certainly appreciate all those dedicated and capable people, who have stepped forward through the years to continue improving and guiding the NWC. We are thankful for them — and for the club’s first woodie — that Plymouth station wagon somewhere back in Maine!

Many people that knew Will said he was “the kindest, gentlest man they had ever known!” He was a very private person, with a quiet modesty. His eastern accent was engaging, and he never tired of talking or writing about Woodies. He felt there was very strong uniqueness about them. A quiet personality, almost shy, he often stayed in the background at woodie events, just watching folks enjoying the woodies. Will often stated that his greatest joy was the fact that the National Woodie Club saved many woodies that otherwise would have been destroyed.

An excellent poker player, Will was also an avid baseball fan who enjoyed an occasional outing to the theater. Along with his journalistic talents, he liked writing poetry and often did so spontaneously for people he liked. In June of 1976, Will put in the Woodie Times one of his poems for the first time.

Woodie Heaven

An early sedan would fit my plan,

I could go for a cabriolet;

I’d be tempted to flirt with a ragtop convert,

(I’d look good in my French beret).

With my good Irish luck, I could find me a truck,

A stepside would be dramatic:

I can find lots of cars that are fit for the stars,

But a woodie would make me ecstatic!

Will put his poetry in the Woodie Times very infrequently, but it was always well received by the membership. He had thoughts of writing a book of poetry and publishing it, but was not granted the time to do so.