Naaman Johnson Woodland, Jr.

Educated in the public schools of Louisiana, Woodland attended Louisiana State University from which he received a B.A. in History and Government in 1946 and a B.S. in Education, in Social Studies and English. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He taught History, Government, and English at Lake Side High School, Hot Springs, Arkansas, before going to Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, where he received his M.A. in History in 1950. He served two years in the United States Army during the Korean War, which included a period of service in Germany. He returned to Northwestern where he did additional graduate work at the Doctoral level, and then taught at Lyons Junior College in Oak Park, Illinois.

Woodland came to Lamar University (then Lamar State College of Technology) in 1957 as a member of the History Department. In addition to the basic U.S. History survey courses and Western Civilization, he taught advance level courses in the Progressive Era of U.S. History and in European History. He was invited to teach in the Lamar University Honors Program several times, and served on the Lamar-Rome faculty twice. Woodland created a new course which was an approach to American History through American art and music. Another innovation which he introduced was the use of family history and genealogy in the U.S. History survey courses.

In 1986 Woodland was nominated by the Faculty Senate for the American Association of Higher Education Award. He was among 50 college teachers selected from across the nation to appear in Change Magazine as a teacher “whose contributions go beyond classroom teaching and scholarship.” He received the prestigious Ottis Locke Endowment Award for Excellence in Teaching History from the East Texas Historical Association in 1987. Woodland was named Regents Professor of History, the highest award given at Lamar University in 1989. He received the Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award in 1989. In 1998 he received the award from the Daughters of the American Revolution for Preserving American History for Southeast Texas.

Active in campus affairs, Professor Woodland served on the Liberal Arts Council and as an officer in the Faculty Senate. He was chairman of the Faculty Development and Research Committee during 1986-87. He was president of the Lamar Chapter of the Texas Association of College Teachers (TACT), and a Delegate to the TACT House of Delegates. He served on several TACT state offices, including Regional Vice President. He served as Faculty Advisor for the Lamar chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the International History Honor Society. He retired from Lamar University after 37½ years of teaching.

Active in community affairs, Woodland served as President of the Southeast Texas Genealogical & Historical Society, Chairman of the Beaumont Public Library Commission, on the Board of the Beaumont Heritage Society, and member of the SPARE Beaumont Committee of the Heritage Society. He served on the Board of Directors of the Spindletop Gladys City’s Advisory Board, served as President of the Texas Gulf Historical Society, as a Board member of the East Texas Historical Association, Board member and President of the Tyrrell Historical Library Association, Board member of the Beaumont History Conference, and Board member of the Beaumont Art Museum. He also served on the Beaumont city auditorium planning committee, an advisory committee to the architect. This building ultimately became the Julie Rogers Theater.

Mr. Woodland was a founding member and past President of the Beaumont Civic Opera. He sang in the chorus, portrayed minor roles, designed sets, and remained on the Board of Directors for the life of that organization. He sang in the Beaumont Interfaith Choral Society for many years. He was Vice President and Chairman of the Artists Selection Committee of the Beaumont Music Commission, bringing artists to the community and to the Arts Related curriculum of BISD and Lamar University. In 1981, he received the Julie and Ben Rogers Community Service Award, and in 1992 he received the Southeast Texas Arts Council Award for Outstanding Achievement by an Arts Humanities Volunteer. He received this award a second time in 2010. Woodland was in demand as a speaker with many area groups, sharing his knowledge of history, music, art, and genealogy.

As a member of the First United Methodist Church of Beaumont, Woodland served as president of the Chancel Choir, member of the Worship & Music Commission, member of the Leland Best Concert Series committee, and served as Chairman of the History & Records Committee. He was one of the associate editors of the book published in 1987 titled, With a Dome More Vast: the History of the First United Methodist Church, 1968-1985. In 1998 he received the Second Mile award from the Alpha Omega Class at First United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church Local History & Archives Committee.

Long known to be one of Lamar’s most devoted and energetic teachers, Woodland was recognized by the region and by the University, and in the community, and in his church.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Baldwin Woodland; daughter, Rebecca Coe Woodland; son Philip Baldwin Woodland and his wife, Cindy Hansen Woodland; grandson, Ryan Austin Woodland; brother, Rev. James Philip Woodland; nephew, James Randal Woodland; nieces, Amy Woodland Espinoza and her husband, Miguel Espinoza; and Laura Woodland St. Amand and her husband, Mark St. Amand; two great nieces and two great nephews.

A gathering of Mr. Woodland’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday, February 27, 2015, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, February 28, 2015, at First United Methodist Church, 701 Calder Street, Beaumont, with interment to follow at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Tyrrell Historical Library Association, P.O. Box 12563, Beaumont, Texas 77726, Lamar University Library, P.O. Box 10011, Beaumont, Texas 77710, First United Methodist Church-Beaumont, 701 Calder Street, Beaumont, Texas 77701, or Beaumont Heritage Society, 2240 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77701.