1924-1993
Al "Bud" Woodard was born in Sutter, California. He graduated from Sutter High School before serving as a US Army paratrooper in the European Theater between 1943 and 1946.
After the war, Al married June Pederson and began his college education at Susanville Junior College studying Forestry. He completed a BS in Wildlife Technology at the University of Montana in 1951. After graduation, he worked in Jerome, Idaho for the State Game Management Division for a year before coming to the Poultry Husbandry Department at UC Davis. In 1955, Bud earned an MS in Poultry Husbandry while continuing to work for the department. He was the Superintendent at the Hopkins Tract Avian Facility until 1972 when he was appointed Associate Specialist in the newly renamed Department of Avian Sciences.
Al's research and scientific writing focused on game bird management. A major contribution to that literature was his book, Game Bird Breeders Handbook. He was an international authority on the chukar partridge.
During his 35 years of service to UCD, Al was an advisor to many graduate and undergraduate students. His Game Bird Management course was very popular. Students not only received excellent classroom instruction, but also learned how to build flight cages and nesting boxes.
After his retirement in 1990, Al and June enjoyed many trips to the California coast and kept in touch with former students, colleagues, and friends.