Percy Wood


Percy Addison Wood, Jr. was a United Airlines executive and also notable for being injured by a bomb sent by Ted Kaczynski, who primarily targeted Universities and Airlines. Wood had never met Kaczynski, and Kaczynski is believed to be fascinated with wood, sometimes encasing his bombs in wood, and may have chosen Wood in part for his name. Wood was injured June 10, 1980, in the fourth explosion attributed to the Unabomber, and suffered burns and cuts over much of his body when he opened a package left in the mailbox of his Lake Forest, Illinois home. Inside the package was a copy of the book Ice Brothers, which had a bomb rigged inside.
Wood was born in Oakland, California on June 7, 1920 and resided in San Mateo, CA, Greenwich, CT and Lake Forest, IL, prior to retiring to Florida. He was past President and Chief Operating Officer of United Airlines, where he worked for 41 years. Wood joined United in 1941, and was named president of the airline in 1978, taking over the post from Richard J. Ferris, who was named chairman of the board. Ferris also is president of UAL Inc., parent company of the airline.
Wood attained the highest honor at both the Boy Scouts and the Sea Scouts, as well as being a Troop Leader.
In the last years of his life he lived in Sandhill Cove in Palm City, FL, and was 22-year resident of Mariner Sands, Stuart, FL. He died on June 23, 2008. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Mary Sherwood Wood with whom he had four sons as well as nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.