Obituary for David Charles Clark Woodley
David Charles Clark Woodley, age 61, passed away May 21, 2022 in Bloomington, Indiana, after battling health issues for the past several months. Dave leaves behind his son, Darin, age 21, of Bloomington,
Indiana, his mother, Phyllis Kilpatrick Woodley of Winterset, Iowa and his brother, Douglas Woodley (wife Carrie) of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his father, Merritt Woodley.
Dave was a Winterset native who earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in music from the University of Iowa. While there, he was drum major of the Hawkeye Marching Band for 2 years and then assistant marching band director for 2 years. He then served as Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Louisville where he rebuilt the size and quality of the marching band. In recognition of his success at U of L, he was named a Kentucky Colonel, the highest honor bestowed by the Governor of Kentucky.
When his mentor, Dr. Morgan Jones, retired from the University of Iowa, Dave served as the interim Director of Athletic Bands for two years. In 1993, he joined the Indiana University School of Music faculty as Director of the Marching Hundred and Big Red Basketball Band. He led the Hundred in performing at several bowl games, NFL games and Super Bowl XLVI. In 2007, the Marching Hundred was named recipient of the Sudler Trophy, which is awarded to college bands of special merit and historical significance. Dave’s passion for music, sports and teaching connected him with thousands of students over the 27 years of his leadership which ended in 2019. He wrote the majority of their halftime show drills and arrangements and was commissioned to arrange more than 500 charts by other college and high school bands. He also has numerous wind ensemble arrangements and concert band transcriptions.
He founded and co-chaired the College Band Directors National Association Athletic Band Advisory Council, served for years as co-chair of the Big Ten/Pac 12 Athletic Band Directors Association, was a member of the National Band Association, and an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi.
His classroom teaching included arranging, marching band techniques and wind score study. Dave teaching style demanded excellence along with a mix of entertainment, practicality and always with a sense of humor. He inspired many students to become band directors. His graduate students fondly nicknamed him ‘Colonel’, which stayed with him throughout his career at Indiana. He retired from teaching in December 2021.
A lifelong Mets and Raiders fan, he and Darin enjoyed many games together. He was especially proud to have Darin play trombone in Marching Hundred for his freshman year. He also passed along his love of golf to Darin.
Visitation will be held in Bloomington on Wednesday, May 25th from 4-7 pm at The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard, 3000 E. Third Street, Bloomington, Indiana.
For the Bloomington visitation, the family wishes that personal memorials in David’s name be directed to an Indiana University scholarship fund in memory of David. All donations that are accepted now will be applied to that fund at the time it is set up. Details about a scholarship in his name and a tribute at IU Homecoming this fall will be announced at a later date.
Visitation will also be in Winterset, Iowa on Friday, May 27th from 5-7 pm at the Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home – Winterset Chapel. He will be laid to rest in Winterset.
For the Iowa visitation, in lieu of flowers, the family wishes that personal memorials in David’s name be directed to the Winterset High School Alumni Association, POB 30, Winterset, Iowa 50273.
Indiana, his mother, Phyllis Kilpatrick Woodley of Winterset, Iowa and his brother, Douglas Woodley (wife Carrie) of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his father, Merritt Woodley.
Dave was a Winterset native who earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in music from the University of Iowa. While there, he was drum major of the Hawkeye Marching Band for 2 years and then assistant marching band director for 2 years. He then served as Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Louisville where he rebuilt the size and quality of the marching band. In recognition of his success at U of L, he was named a Kentucky Colonel, the highest honor bestowed by the Governor of Kentucky.
When his mentor, Dr. Morgan Jones, retired from the University of Iowa, Dave served as the interim Director of Athletic Bands for two years. In 1993, he joined the Indiana University School of Music faculty as Director of the Marching Hundred and Big Red Basketball Band. He led the Hundred in performing at several bowl games, NFL games and Super Bowl XLVI. In 2007, the Marching Hundred was named recipient of the Sudler Trophy, which is awarded to college bands of special merit and historical significance. Dave’s passion for music, sports and teaching connected him with thousands of students over the 27 years of his leadership which ended in 2019. He wrote the majority of their halftime show drills and arrangements and was commissioned to arrange more than 500 charts by other college and high school bands. He also has numerous wind ensemble arrangements and concert band transcriptions.
He founded and co-chaired the College Band Directors National Association Athletic Band Advisory Council, served for years as co-chair of the Big Ten/Pac 12 Athletic Band Directors Association, was a member of the National Band Association, and an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi.
His classroom teaching included arranging, marching band techniques and wind score study. Dave teaching style demanded excellence along with a mix of entertainment, practicality and always with a sense of humor. He inspired many students to become band directors. His graduate students fondly nicknamed him ‘Colonel’, which stayed with him throughout his career at Indiana. He retired from teaching in December 2021.
A lifelong Mets and Raiders fan, he and Darin enjoyed many games together. He was especially proud to have Darin play trombone in Marching Hundred for his freshman year. He also passed along his love of golf to Darin.
Visitation will be held in Bloomington on Wednesday, May 25th from 4-7 pm at The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard, 3000 E. Third Street, Bloomington, Indiana.
For the Bloomington visitation, the family wishes that personal memorials in David’s name be directed to an Indiana University scholarship fund in memory of David. All donations that are accepted now will be applied to that fund at the time it is set up. Details about a scholarship in his name and a tribute at IU Homecoming this fall will be announced at a later date.
Visitation will also be in Winterset, Iowa on Friday, May 27th from 5-7 pm at the Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home – Winterset Chapel. He will be laid to rest in Winterset.
For the Iowa visitation, in lieu of flowers, the family wishes that personal memorials in David’s name be directed to the Winterset High School Alumni Association, POB 30, Winterset, Iowa 50273.