The Finder

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Woude Wood grew up in the inner city housing projects near 55th street. In the Cedar/Central neighborhood, his father died at 52. His biological mother also died when he was six years old. Woude credits his second mother, Lillian, as the person who instilled in him the will and determination to survive and succeed in life. He graduated from East Tech High School, the same school that famed Olympians Jesse Owens and Harrison Dillard graduated from. He struggled for many years with alcohol and heroin addiction. He attended Cuyahoga Community College and Capital University, earning his degree at 38. He retired from Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division as a probation officer. Wood is an avid runner. He currently lives in Bay Village, Ohio.