Remembering the Life and Legacy of Bob Woodson (1937–2026)

Pepperdine Libraries mourns the passing of civil rights activist Bob Woodson, who passed away May 19 at the age of 89. It was only a year ago that the Libraries announced the partnership with the Woodson Center on preserving the history of Woodson’s decades long legacy. While we reflect on a life based on the premise of inspiring communities and empowering leaders from within, we remember a visionary whose revolutionary approach to poverty alleviation, gang truces, and neighborhood revitalization reframed how America thinks about race and community. 

At Pepperdine, his legacy is deeply intertwined with the School of Public Policy and its founding, as Dean Pete Peterson shared his thoughts on Woodson’s life and influence over the years:

  “Bob Woodson was the School of Public Policy's first public speaker in the fall of 1997. As a new public policy program dedicated to citizen empowerment, and community-building, Bob was the perfect inaugural lecturer. Over half a century, Bob not only argued for these principles through his prolific writing and speaking, he practiced them, consulting with and training community leaders to engage in policy challenges ranging from poverty to prison reform. His Woodson Center continues to work around the country highlighting remarkable civic leaders as it trains a new generation of them. Bob spoke many times at SPP, and over the last few years has served on a SPP task force dedicated to advising the State of Tennessee's Department of Human Services as it seeks to ‘reform the social safety net’ in that state. Bob was a man of faith, who believed in his bones that by encouraging citizens and government institutions to promote self governance, people could realize the callings placed on them by God.”

Pete Peterson
Dean, School of Public Policy

As we extend our deepest condolences to all those at the Woodson Center and the Woodson family, Pepperdine Libraries is honored to serve as the home of Bob’s prolific career. While we continue to describe and make the contents of this collection available to all, we welcome you to explore the Bob Woodson Digital Collection website and email special collections with any inquiries.