NRRF - IN MEMORY OF The Passing of a Warrior

IN MEMORY OF
The Passing of a Warrior
March 3, 2008

Robert W. Sweet, Jr.
President
The National Right to Read Foundation

Yesterday Mrs. Fox Wood (Regna Lee, to her friends) took flight from this life and passed on to her eternal reward. We will miss you, Regna.

If there ever was a fearless, tireless, and persistent advocate for children and their right to learn how to read it was Regna Lee Wood. I met Regna by phone in the mid 1990's long after she had been fighting nearly alone to convince Oklahoma State legislators, Members of Congress, the Governor, and educators at all levels of responsibility that we knew how to teach all children to read. She was an advocate for "scientifically based reading instruction" long before that term was even thought of. She taught children how to read, created her own excellent program to do that, and did her utmost to help struggling teachers understand the knowledge of how reading instruction could be effective and 100 percent successful with every student.

She was an encyclopedia of knowledge on reading methodology and knew the statistics on literacy in her own state and the nation as well. She had regular conversations with the staff at the National Center for Education Statistics in Washington, DC, and with Members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives.

She was tenacious, persuasive, and passionate for the sake of our children. The National Right to Read Foundation was blessed to have her as our Director of Statistical Research for many years. Her impact on improving reading instruction in America and reversing the downward spiral of illiteracy was incalculable. We were honored to have her as a colleague in arms.

Today, we honor her memory and acknowledge her love for millions of children she never met. The nation owes her a debt of gratitude. It was a privilege to call her friend. Our sincere condolences go to her husband, Fox, and to her family.

Goodbye for now, dear Regna Lee Wood.........eternal rest and peace be yours until we meet again.

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