Former Wawa President, CEO and Chairman Richard D. Wood Jr. passed away on July 10, according to an announcement from the retailer. He was 88 years old, per his obituary.
“Dick Wood was unlike any other CEO I’ve ever encountered,” said Howard Stoeckel, former vice chairperson and former president and CEO at Wawa. “At Wawa, we have a set of core values that we live by, and Dick is the one who brought them to life and instilled them into our culture.”
Wood began working with Wawa as the company’s first general counsel in 1970 at the encouragement of Grahame Wood, a family member and the founder of Wawa, according to the announcement. The company promoted him to president in 1977 and then CEO in 1980 — a role he would hold until his retirement in 2004, according to the announcement.
He also served as the company’s chairman from 1982 until 2020, when he became chairman emeritus.
Wood instituted many changes to Wawa during his time with the company, including adding fuel to the business model and making Wawa a 24/7 business. Wawa grew to more than 900 locations in six states during his tenure with the company.
He installed several programs targeted at employees during his time with Wawa, including the employee stock ownership plan, which has led to associates owning around 38% of the company, and establishing Wawa’s Internal Care Team, which helps workers address life events or issues.
Wood also served as chairman of NACS in 1985.
“Dick Wood was our true Lead Goose who was the guiding heart and soul of the company,” said Chris Gheysens, Wawa’s chairman and CEO. “He is the reason why Wawa is the company we are today and why we enjoy so much share of heart from our customers and dedication from our associates.”
