By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Ron Woofter knows basketball, bridge and business. A lifetime learner, he also knows that a little generosity can make a big difference in a person’s path to success.
Though uncomfortable talking about his philanthropy, Woofter can pinpoint the moment when he decided he wouldn’t squirrel away his money. The lightbulb came on in college while he was watching the final scene of the black and white classic, “Going My Way,” with Bing Crosby.
The gist of the movie is that people are rewarded for “what we do for others.” Woofter occasionally catches the movie on Turner Movie Classics, and gets choked up all over again.
Woofter, 85, of Bowling Green, doesn’t do anything half-heartedly – including helping others.
After graduating from Ohio Northern University in 1961, he taught for a few years, then joined the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam, leaving after seven years with the rank of captain. When he returned home, Woofter helped sponsor two Vietnamese refugees until they reached adulthood – and still maintains friendships with them.
Woofter earned a master’s degree at BGSU in education administration, and became president of the Luckey Oil Equipment Company, which he purchased in 1982. He operated the business until his retirement in 2013.
He approaches hobbies with the same conviction.
An avid bridge player, he has achieved the rank of Gold Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League. He was formerly a mainstay in local theater, with a flair for playing humorous roles. And he has volunteered for Crim Elementary School projects through his church, First United Methodist.
Woofter walks a half hour each day, plays piano, solves crossword puzzles, loves reading biographies, and in recent years tried to learn Spanish – which proved more difficult than he expected.
Even as a sports fan, Woofter approaches his role with gusto. And it’s here that he has found a way to help athletes succeed on the court and in life.
When approached to help fund a new scoreboard for the Bowling Green High School basketball team in the early 2000s, Woofter decided to send a check and attend some of the team’s practices and games.
That was 20 years ago, and Woofter can still be found in the stands cheering on the Bobcats.
Von Graffin was head coach at the time when Woofter first became the team’s biggest fan. It was clear that he had a love of the sport, which he played decades earlier in his Hartford, Ohio, school that had 21 in his graduating class.
“Ron embraced us,” Graffin said. “He can drop a lot of player names, and dates, and team names. He has a love of the game.”
Woofter was a steadfast supporter of Bobcat basketball, plus the Bowling Green State University basketball and football teams.
“Win, lose or draw – Ron came to the games,” Graffin said.
Not having children of his own, Woofter decided years before to help other youth.
“Every year he’d cut the team a check,” that could be used to make sure all the players had basketball shoes and sweatsuits, Graffin said. “Those young men were taken care of because of Ron Woofter.”
“I don’t have the expense of having my own kids to put through college,” Woofter said.
Woofter’s generosity has continued with the young athletes, with many of the seniors inviting him to their graduation celebrations.
“Not everybody wants to invite an old man,” Woofter said.
But Graffin said when graduation rolls around, “Ron’s everywhere.”
Even after the young men had completed their seasons of Bobcat basketball, Woofter is known for helping out – just as he has done as part of ONU’s Forward Together campaign, where he set up a charitable gift annuity to fund an endowed scholarship in honor of his parents.
The gifts can be used for school, or other expenses.
“There are no strings attached,” Woofter said. “It wouldn’t be a gift if there were.”
In some cases, Woofter – who adopted the team – is later adopted by the families. He often gets invitations to weddings, and is a regular at the Graffin’s family Christmas gatherings.
“It’s a real honor,” Woofter said. Not to mention tasty. “Von’s mother makes the best rum balls.”
Graffin said Woofter has become a member of the family.
“He’s a great addition to the family,” he said.
“There are so many takers in our society,” Graffin said. “Ron is a giver of time, money and knowledge. He didn’t want anything back from the kids. He just got something back from giving.”
“Ron is a true giver,” Graffin said.
