James P. Woods

Biography

Born near Roanoke, Virginia, Woods attended the common schools. He graduated from Roanoke College in 1892. He studied law at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville in 1892 and 1893. He was admitted to the bar in the latter year and commenced practice in Roanoke, Virginia. He served as mayor of Roanoke 1898-1900.

Woods was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-fifth and Sixty-sixth Congresses to fill the vacancies caused by the resignation of Carter Glass. He was reelected to the Sixty-seventh Congress and served from February 25, 1919, to March 3, 1923. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1922. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1920. He served as president of the board of trustees of Roanoke College. He served as member of the board of trustees of the Randolph-Macon system of colleges. Rector of the board of visitors of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He resumed the practice of law. He died in Roanoke, Virginia, July 7, 1948. He was interred in Evergreen Burial Park.

Electoral history

• 1918; Woods was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election with 88.24% of the vote, defeating Independent F.S. Layne.
• 1920; Woods was re-elected with 58.97% of the vote, defeating Republican William Doak.