January 28, 2011 — Gordon Ralph Woody Jr., a member of the Seven Society, died Jan. 6 in Danville. He was 78. He graduated from the University of Virginia with honors in 1954 and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Dental School in 1961. He was an orthodontist in Danville for 35 years.

Woody was revealed as a member of the Seven Society after his death, in accordance with the society's tradition, University historian Alexander "Sandy" Gilliam said. The University Chapel's bells tolled last Thursday to honor Woody.

Seven Society members have always been benefactors to the University, Gilliam said. Many "have contributed a great deal to the life of the University when they were students," he said, "and I don't just mean financially."

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