Many still call him “Mr. Georgetown,” and it is fitting. They met at a movie theater in Llano, Texas in the summer of 1960 and, as you might expect, Leo says it was love at first sight. During an interview in January 2020, Vivian said her first thought was, “I wonder what daddy is going to think.” She smiled as she quizzed him (unsuccessfully) on their various commemorative dates; “But just ask him something like how much water the city used in March of 1973…”
They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in August and many in Georgetown, Williamson County, and other parts of Texas mourned Vivian’s passing April 14, 2021.
PROCLAMATION
- Whereas Leo and Vivian Wood have resided in and supported the growth of Georgetown since 1969; and
- Whereas Leo Wood became City Manager of Georgetown in 1969, when the population was only 6,000, a job which included physically throwing the switch to turn on and off the street lights in downtown as well as the switch for the water pump that fed Georgetown’s single fire hydrant; and
- Whereas Leo Wood was elected Mayor of Georgetown in 1992 and served until 1999, during which time he provided leadership for the growth and improvement of Georgetown including revitalization of the downtown square (which won the Great American Main Street Award 1997), construction and growth of additional parks and trails, recruitment of Sun City to Georgetown (which has added 8,500 new homes and 15,700 residents) and the vision to build SH 130; and
- Whereas Vivian Wood was elected Williamson County Treasurer in 1994, named Outstanding Texas County Treasurer in 2004, and re-elected five times, serving a total of 22 years; and Whereas Vivian Wood served as Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce for 17 years; and
- Whereas Leo Wood remained very active as a private citizen in encouraging development and growth in Georgetown, restoring the historic Williamson County Courthouse, organizing dozens of charitable events and promoting veterans issues; and
- Whereas, despite many offers which were presented to Leo and Vivian Wood, which would have required them to relocate, all were turned down so that they could remain here and continue to support Georgetown and Williamson County;
- Therefore, be it resolved that the City of Georgetown is grateful for the tireless efforts and dedication of Leo and Vivian Wood, and hereby proclaims that May 18, 2021 be dedicated as “Mr. and Mrs. Georgetown Day” in honor of Leo and Vivian Wood.
FRIENDS REMEMBER
After 50 years in Georgetown, there are not enough pages in this magazine to share all the Woods’ stories. Suffice to say, we are fortunate they chose to stay. On the occasion of “Mr. and Mrs. Georgetown” Day, friends in business and leadership shared laughs, love, and praise. The proclamation was read at Commissioners Court, where Judge Bill Gravell also resolved May 18, 2021 to be “Mr. and Mrs. Williamson County” Day.
MIKE MCCLOSKEY • You truly look at them and say if there was ever any two people who created what the city has become, it’s Leo and Vivian. It’s hard to picture Georgetown without them.
RON GARLAND • When I think of Leo and Vivian, I simply think about servant leadership and the things they brought to the community collectively through their efforts, and their work to serve our community in ways many of us don’t know.
BEN DANIEL • They were Williamson County’s first power couple. What they yielded was amazing. Leo was our “folksy” friend but he was a visionary… we’re so thankful for all the people who are here, in Sun City, that we can call friends because of Leo’s forward thinking. Plus, as founder of the Steak Fry, he has been a part of donating more than $300,000 in an around Georgetown.
BRAD CURLEE • When Leo became Mayor, he began giving kids nickels, and when he left office, he had moved up to quarters. The kids all called him the Quarter-Man. He wanted to encourage children to save money, but also because he was just nice.
JOHN MARLER • There was never an arrogant bone in his body. When Vivian would say “He’s the politician,” I never pictured him in that word. I pictured him as truly a person who was here to serve everyone he ever met. Vivian and Leo are impossible to separate; you can’t talk about one without the other. At one point, he introduced me to Vivian and said “This is my arm candy.” The beauty of the woman always shone through.
MAYOR JOSH SCHROEDER • Leo’s foresight has become even more prominent in the last eight weeks now that Tesla and SpaceX will be adjacent to 130, and those will be the greatest economic drivers this area has seen for 40 years.
When I told Leo I wanted to run, he sat me down and told me how everything worked. We talked about how far Georgetown has come in all the years he was here. One example, he mentioned the Arts Center and Thundercloud Subs—that was City Hall. “The City” was Leo, the Secretary, and the Chief of Police. On Friday mornings he would say “Hey are we going to make payroll today?” She would say “I don’t know,” and he responded, “Hey you better go collect some water bills.” That wasn’t that long ago, and some days I wish we could go back to that level of simplicity and certainty.
COUNTY JUDGE BILL GRAVELL • In all my time as County Judge, I have not proposed a proclamation, and I can not think of one more worthy or more important. The resolution to the County reads similarly [to Georgetown] except for the last paragraph, Therefore be it resolved that Williamson County is grateful for the tireless effort and dedication of Leo and Vivian Wood and hereby proclaims this day to be dedicated as Mr. and Mrs. Williamson County Day in honor of Leo and Vivian Wood.
The reason we’ve done this resolution today is that you and Vivian are a wonderful example of good people. Our community has been made immeasurably better because of your sacrifices, and to your family, know that your dad and granddad is a force that has shaped this community to be what it is.
Motion seconded by Commissioner Covey; motion passes unanimously.