“This is something I wanted to do,” he said. Somebody’s got to do it and get these kids to where they need to be.”įor more than three decades, Woodard has worked with the school system - since the school opened, he’s been at Gardner Newman and is the athletic director. I tell people you don’t get rich teaching, but you do it for the love of the kids. “I love it, and I’ve done it so long now. “Sometimes I honestly can’t say why I serve,” he said Tuesday as he oversaw a game of dodgeball. He continues that service every school day at Gardner Newman Middle School, but has traded his rifle for a coach’s whistle. Woodard, who retired from the guard in March, knows what it means to serve. He missed many of his two sons’ birthdays and sporting events, but if he could, he’d still go back and do it all again.
The frequent deployments and training were tough on his family. He met former Secretary of State Colin Powell and guarded Air Force One when Bill Clinton was president. He was in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and Kuwait during the Iraq war in 2006. Michael Woodard, 60, of LaGrange served with several units and traveled halfway across the globe. LaGRANGE - In his 35 years with the National Guard, retired 1st Sgt.
Michael Woodard, retired National Guard 1st sergeant and athletic director at Gardner Newman Middle School, leads exercises Tuesday at the school.
