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Airman First Class Joshua E. Woody
Joshua Edward Woody was born October 6, 1975, in San Jose, CA. He attended school through the seventh grade in Los Gatos. During 1989 Josh moved to Corning where he entered Maywood Junior High School. He graduated with the Maywood Class of 1990 and the Corning Union High School Class of 1994.
At CUHS Josh lettered in wrestling and football, as well as academics. Josh played football all four years at Corning High School. He was all-league his junior and senior years, a second-team all Northern Section defensive tackle as a senior in 1994. Josh was the varsity football team co-captain his senior year. Following graduation he played in the Lions All-Star North-South football game.
Wearing jersey number 88 Josh, “Woody”, earned a reputation for being an outstanding team player and leader. Josh was selected to the All-League team his junior and senior years. Many believe his best performance was during the Fall 1993 Corning vs. Foothill game that earned him a position on the Lions All-Star North team.
Early in practice for the Lions All Star Football Game a North team player, number 54, was injured and would not be able to play in the game. The North team was in desperate need of a running back, but a running back could not wear the number 54.
Josh volunteered to give up his number, the number 88 he wore at Corning, and took the number 54 so that his former Corning Cardinal teammate, Earl Murr, could join the team. Earl went on to be selected the MVP of the game in a 44 to 14 North victory.
Josh had 4 solo tackles, 4 assists, and 1 1/2 Quarter Back sacks in the game.
Josh worked for his stepfather during his sophomore and junior school years, when he wasn’t playing football or wrestling, as an electrician’s helper. During his junior year he started working at the local McDonald’s Restaurant, where he rapidly advanced to the job of Maintenance Manager for three McDonald’s stores, prior to his graduation from high school in June of 1994.
Josh enlisted in the United States Air Force March 8, 1995, taking basic training at Lackland Air Force Base and advanced training at Sheppard Air Force Base. On completion of basic and advanced individual training, the Air Force assigned him to the 58th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Wing, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
Josh married Dawn Marie Riniker of Pryor, Oklahoma on February 21, 1996. They established their home in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, near his duty station at Eglin Air Force Base. Find a Grave.
