Best known for a sterling career in higher education capped by his appointment as president emeritus of the University of Alaska in 1975, after which he served a term as mayor of Anchorage. The Jacksonville native earned his M.A. from the University of Illinois and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Iowa. As an undergraduate, Wood lettered in basketball and baseball at Illinois College. He also served as president of Sigma Pi Literary Society and was a member of the newspaper and yearbook staffs. He served as vice president at the University of Nevada from 1954-1960 and was appointed president of the University of Alaska in 1960. In 1960, he was awarded the honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Illinois College.