James Woods Jr.

Jim was born in Louisa, KY on Sept 18, 1937. He went to local schools and then to Washington Court House High School when his family moved to Ohio. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Ohio University and then a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Virginia.

His first job was in 1965 as a research assistant in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Michigan. He never left this department and he never left research.

He moved through the academic ranks to full professorship in Pharmacology and Psychology in 1975, and retired as Professor Emeritus in 2016. His research was focused on understanding the behavioral effects of drugs of abuse, with a special interest in drugs that interact with specific receptors, and with compounds that had the potential to treat drug abuse. Probably his most enduring legacy, in addition to his research findings, was the impact he had on the many students who work in his laboratory. They were his pride and joy, and they loved him in return. Many went on to successful careers in their fields. Along with his students he published over 400 research papers and earned many awards, capped by the Nathen B. Eddy Memorial award for excellence in drug abuse research in 2003.

Jim was married to Gail Winger for 51 years. He had two children from his first marriage, James H. Woods III (Jay) who was a popular high school teacher in Holland, MI and Lisa Woods, an artist in Charlottesville, VA. Jim died on Sept 22, 2026 in Holland, MI, four days after his 89th birthday, having been ravaged by Alzheimer’s disease for many years. His family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at the Assisted Living facility at the Farmstead in Holland for their devotion to his care, and to Hospice of Holland for helping Jim through this transition.